I grew up in Has'bro

[Andy the Coastie]

Maritime & Coastguard Agency


Press Notice No: 205/06
Monday, July 03, 2006
Posted 16:56 GMT

YARMOUTH COASTGUARD ENSURES SPEEDY RESPONSE FOR DIVER WITH THE BENDS

At 9.50 this morning, Yarmouth Coastguard received an emergency call from the sports diving rhib Safari Diver reporting that a 31 year old diver had become unconscious on a diving ascent 13 miles north east Sea Palling, off Happisburgh. He was brought onboard the dive boat and was being given oxygen.

Yarmouth Coastguard immediately scrambled the RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham and requested the Happisburgh RNLI Inshore Lifeboat to proceed. They also ensured that the hypobaric chamber at the James Paget Hospital was brought to readiness.
Advice was given to the dive boat by the emergency doctor at the Queen Alexandra II Hospital in Portsmouth using the Coastguard radio / telephone connect system. Two other dive boats assisted with the patient.
Rescue 125 then flew the patient and his buddy to the James Paget Hospital in Gorlestone, arriving at 11.02. Happisburgh RNLI inshore lifeboat escorted the Safari Diver and its crew back into Sea Palling.
The patient was conscious on arrival at hospital and is reported to be making a full recovery.