Recent fatalities

[Ratbag]

I have only started diving in earnest this year and have noticed with some alarm the seemingly high number of fatalities.

Firstly, is this unusually hight his year?

Secondly, I never seem to read any reports of the findings of any inquiry. I would like to know why these fatalities occurred, even if the reasons are different. This would be mostly so that I could try to avoid situations or actions that may be detrimental to my health. Is there any common thread with some of these fatalities?

I find it a little worrying but my family finds it more so.

All the best,

Patrick

[Mark Davies]

It has been a particularly bad year so far. I think we've had as many fatalities in the first six months as we had all last year. Hopefully it's a statistical blip rather than a sign of an expotentially increasing trend.

BSAC do an annual incident report, but it is in no way comprehensive as it only details incidents reported to them. Any incident involving non-BSAC divers is likely not to be included as a report won't be filed. As far as I know there is no other central agency compiling reports on diving related deaths. Coroner's reports are available to the public but you'd need to look for each one individually. I wonder if BSAC could take it upon themselves (as the 'national governing body' of the sport) to collate all these reports, whether initially reported to them or not, and make them available as a resource on the net?

As you say, Patrick, it would be very useful to us all to be able to read about what happened and avoid the same outcome.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Mark Davies

BSAC do an annual incident report, but it is in no way comprehensive as it only details incidents reported to them. Any incident involving non-BSAC divers is likely not to be included as a report won't be filed.

Mark

The BSAC incident reports do in fact cover non-BSAC divers, the reports cover any incident which has been reported they passed from CG and RNLI and re-compression chambers. Some of the individual reports state BSAC and non-BSAC incidents.

In case anyone is interested, no other reason

http://www.bsac.org/techserv/increp03/statistics03.htm

Fiona

[PaulC]

Patrick, I wouldn't worry unduly.

The incident rate does seem rather high this year, but then again last year it was below the average.

I think (although stand to be corrected) that the BSAC annual report is the best source of further information about incidents and their causes. There is also a fair amount of research on the web from abroad (in particular but not limited to DAN) which you ought to be able to find after a bit of searching.

I am in full agreement with those who say it is unhelpful to comment on actual incidents without a full knowledge of the circumstances and background - so the following comment is not in any way linked to any of the recent sad fatalities.

But the best way that you can reassure your family, I would have thought, is to get plenty of good quality training (I saw the Rescue Course thread BTW and agree with what was said there), and then to dive conservatively and within your capabilities, maintaining the integrity of your kit and an adequate level of fitness.

Sorry I probably sound like someone's granny there...

Oh, and it may help to keep in perspective to recall that more than 3500 people were killed on Britain's roads last year (source: DFT website). So there are risks attached to other things than going diving.

[turbanator]

The BS-AC incident report consists of incidents reported to them, including British divers abroad.
Reports are in the form of the incident reports which BS-AC divers fill in, this can be anything from a burst hose on the boat, running out of fuel, buddy seperation, DCI, death, depending on what the person making the report (often the DO) thinks is worth reporting.
They also have reports from the CG and RNLI if an incident involves divers, I also believe that they have a press agency that checks out local and national papers for them.

So you can see from the last 3 sources that they will include non-bsac incidents, but may not have a detailed report

The incident officer (Brian Cummings IIRC), collates and de-duplicates these and then compiles the annual incident report, which usually covers the year from Sept-Sept.

Some reports are detailed others are just a date and that the RNLI launched to help divers in distress - they are always anonymous.

r
Paul

[EDIT]
Aha - Fiona B beat me to it.

[Dr Stevil]

Here's the link to the National Diving Council Incidents report.
http://www.bsac.org/techserv/increp03/intro.htm

A quote from the report

It is important to note that it contains details of UK diving incidents occurring to divers of all affiliations, plus incidents occurring world-wide involving BSAC members.

This will give you info on incidents (not just fatalities) for the whole UK regardless of agency. However, as some agencies don't require you to tell them about every minor FUBAR the majority of little stuff won't be included.

AS for how this year compares see the link below, as you can see from that 1998 had 22 fatalities cf 11 in 2003. 2004 has had (by my reckoning) around 15-18 already, so it's going to be the biggest total since 1973 (29 fatalities) and 1972 (41 fatalities).
http://www.bsac.org/techserv/increp03/statistics03.htm

Given the advances in knowledge and equipment since the early 70's (don't think AASs were much in evidence then) it will be a proportionately worse indication for current practice to show a death rate comparable to the 72/73 figures.

Common threads amongst these occurences would seem to be:
1) a sharp increase around what some see as "the start of the season" March/April, traditional Easter is seen as the "start", and what defines Easter ? A full moon and therefore spring tides - doh!! This combined with people not being "dived in" after a winter break, overestimating their skill level and fitness etc.
2) diving beyond previous experience
3) lack of redundant systems

I know what you mean about family worrying, I get frantic texts whenever a diver death is in the news

Avoiding incidents can be helped by good training and abaiding by safe diving practices (eg http://www.bsac.org/techserv/sdp.htm )

There's no reason why diving should be anymore dangerous than driving to the supermarket and back, as long as it's approached safely.

For instance, recently I was lugging my twinset onto a boat, the dive was going to be a 32-ish metre wreck in an area renowned for considerable currents. One diver on another boat thought this was actually funny and was a tad mocking that I'd take so much gas for what they (very wrongly) believed was a 20m pootle. So it doesn't surprise me that there are so many incidents if this is the attitude taken by some divers, ie lack of prior knowledge about the upcoming dive, lack of appreciation of crucial safety equipment, inappropriate attitude to safety etc etc

The fact that you're aware and concerned about these issues at your relatively early stage of diving is a very good indication, eg you could have just jumped off the boats in Anglesey gung-ho with Jo, but no, you've had the foresight to ask that a more experienced diver accompanies you just in case, and that's basically what it's all about, as the military guys say: the six or seven (sometimes) "P's" Proper and Prior Preperation Prevents P*** Poor Performance.

[Ratbag]

Thanks to all for your replies..and to Steve for your kind words...looking forward to meeting you in Anglesey...you have also raised something else that has been on my mind...another thread methinks...

[Mark Chase]

[quote=Steve W]

Fair but I think there are one hell of a lot more divers diving in the UK than in the 70's As a percentage I dont think it would look any where near as bad but this numbers game is not the point. The point is, apart from health issues hart attacks and bits of wreckage falling off and landing on the diver there shouldent be any deaths. Accidents yes but deaths no. Running out of gas is a totaly ridiculaus way to die and yet I here it over and over agian that the incident was a gas issue or related to a gas issue. Panic is another one that gets me and makes me think we are too soft on divers at OW level and dont weed out the ones who shouldent be in the water unattended by an instructor.

There's no reason why diving should be anymore dangerous than driving to the supermarket and back, as long as it's approached safely.

Statisticly its much safer but diving is a personal choice thing driving is often essential

For instance, recently I was lugging my twinset onto a boat, the dive was going to be a 32-ish metre wreck in an area renowned for considerable currents. One diver on another boat thought this was actually funny and was a tad mocking that I'd take so much gas for what they (very wrongly) believed was a 20m pootle.

I get this all the time, especialy in the Red Sea when I twin up. When I am diving 35m dives I have the pis taken for taking a deco stage and when I dive 45m wrecks I get the piss taken for taking two stages.

I could sit there and explain the safety benifits but I cat be assed on the dive boat.

Two very very good divers have died this year for no particular reasion so it
makes me reailse I could be next dispite all my confidance, experiance and training but the avoidable ones realy get me anoyed.

ATB


Mark Chase