HM Coastguard - Diving Incidents 2009

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 25th January 2009

Clyde Coastguard - Loch Fyne
A diver was airlifted to the recompression chamber at Dunstaffnage by Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter R177. The diver who was feeling unwell following an 18m dive in Loch Fyne was not recompressed but was sent to hospital for treatment.

[Humber Coastguard]

Saturday 31st January 2009

Holyhead Coastguard - Dorothea Quarry
Two divers were taken to the hyperbaric facility at Murrayfield Hospital following a rapid ascent during a dive. Following a medical assessment one of the divers was recompressed .

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 1st February 2009

Clyde Coastguard - Loch Fyne, Furnace Quarry
A diver was flown to the recompression chamber at Millport by RN Rescue Helicopter R177. The 42 year old was believed to have made a rapid ascent from 30m during a 47m shore dive which was caused by over inflation of his dry-suit. He had shown symptoms of decompression sickness but following assessment was not recompressed. He was admitted to Lady Margaret Hospital for overnight observation.

Clyde Coastguard - Firth of Clyde, Wreck of the Greenock
A 52 year old diver was flown to Millport by R177. The female diver, who had missed stops following a 29m dive, was not recompressed but was also admitted to Lady Margaret Hospital for overnight observation.

[Humber Coastguard]

Saturday 21st February 2009

Forth Coastguard - North Berwick
A dive boat called Forth Coastguard on VHF Ch16 to report that two of their divers had made a rapid ascent. The divers, aged 49 and 50, were asymptomatic following the 40m dive but were breathing oxygen as a precaution. Following medical advice the North Berwick Inshore Lifeboat was launched to transfer the divers to a waiting ambulance but due to adverse weather conditions the divers were put ashore at Dunbar. The dive boat was escorted into Dunbar by the North Berwick ILB and the Dunbar All Weather Lifeboat. They were then taken by ambulance to hospital for assessment.

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 22nd February 2009

Holyhead Coastguard – Dorothea Quarry
A 43 year old diver was flown to the recompression unit at Murrayfield Hospital by RAF Rescue Helicopter R122. The diver was unwell and showing possible symptoms of DCS following a 50m dive.

[Humber Coastguard]

Monday 23rd February 2009

Solent Coastguard – Brighton
A 49 year old diver suffered DCS symptoms when he made a rapid ascent from a 30m dive and missed a stop. On the advice of the Duty Diving Doctor he was landed ashore and transferred to hospital for assessment.

[Humber Coastguard]

Friday 27th February 2009

Brixham Coastguard – Start Point
Salcombe Lifeboat, Salcombe Inshore Lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R106, HMS Sutherland, the fishing vessel Britannia, Prawle Coastguard Rescue Team and police units were tasked to search for an overdue diver. The 48 year old diver had been scalloping with his buddy in 14m of water but became separated. Even though he deployed an orange flag when on the surface he was not seen and drifted away from his dive boat. He was found by Salcombe Lifeboat 2 hours after the start of his dive and 2.4 miles from his last known position. The diver was well and did not require any medical attention.

Brixham Coastguard – Whitesand Bay, The Wreck of the Scylla
The Duty Diving Doctor at the DDRC recommended that a 51 year old diver should be taken to hospital for assessment. The diver who was having difficulty breathing following a dive on the Scylla was taken ashore by his dive boat and transferred to hospital by ambulance.

[Humber Coastguard]

Saturday 7th March 2009

Brixham Coastguard – Plymouth Sound
A 19 year diver was transferred to the DDRC for treatment for decompression sickness. The diver was showing symptoms following a 20m dive.

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 15th March 2009

Brixham Coastguard – Teignmouth
A diver suffering from decompression sickness was airlifted from the fish quay at Teignmouth by the air ambulance.

[Humber Coastguard]

Tuesday 17th March 2009

Clyde Coastguard – Loch Melfort
Oban Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to assist a broken down RIB. As the dive boat had a diver down on a drift dive a broadcast was made requesting assistance from any vessels in the area. The diver surfaced shortly after and was able to swim back to the boat. The dive boat succeeded in starting its engine and was escorted back to shore by one of the two vessels that responded to the broadcast.