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Dear all.
I am looking for some input here. In another thread Michael let you know that a good friend and good diver died in a diving accident last sunday. As mutual friends began to email me with details, certain things seem to not add up. I would like the opinion of experienced divers here so that I can make thinks add for myself, as it is difficult to come to terms with these loose threads.
The local police, after a few hours, decided on suicide. The coroner's report was death by drowning.
Peter was in a group of 4 divers, doing the ITD Deep Air Course. He had a twin 10 and a 10 stage, all containing air. Upon recovery of his body, the stage was full, the twin contained 140 bar, consistent with the dive profile.
The facts as reported: the group lost Peter during the ascent (vis 2-4m), as he ostensibly swam toward the wall in order to ascend with a reference point. One of the divers first said that he swam for the wall in the company of another diver, later said that he went alone. The ascent was initiated at 50m.
On ascent, Peter was no longer around.
Purportedly, the course intructor went in again after 70 minutes, found Peter (his torch was still glowing) but was unable to raise him.
A day later, the course instructor went back in and raised him. According to his statement, both of Peter's inflator hoses were unattached, there was not a bit of air in Peter's drysuit (trilaminate) or jacket.
I know that many forms of misadventure can occur underwater, but something jars badly here: the course instructor went in A DAY LATER, without support from the local rescue divers (who, incidentally, are stationed about 500 meters away).
According to the surviving divers, all three were narced so badly that they are unable to remember anything except that Peter swam away from them. I find collective amnesia an interesting phenomenon.
The local police returned the dive computers to the three divers within hours. One diver thereupon immediately went to the airport and flew to Bali (a planned trip, mind you, not jumping off).
The examination of Peter's equipment revealed no anomalies, and he had been ice diving two weeks before with no problems (no icing up of reg or hoses).
The coroner's examination revealed nothing such as heart attack etc.
Peter's attorney refused to accept the suicide theory (as do all who know him) and has lodged an accusation of manslaughter.
Any opinions on this? Michael and I are pretty lost here because so much does not rhyme, especially the lack of official police divers to recover the body. The instructor (apparently) recovered the body SOLO. This is not normal procedure.
I am making no accusations here, or finding fault: one must assume that it was a stupid and senseless accident. But why then are the parties involved unable to agree from one day to the next on the details, and why the lack of police support?
Any ideas will be appreciated!
moray
Dear all.
I am looking for some input here. In another thread Michael let you know that a good friend and good diver died in a diving accident last sunday. As mutual friends began to email me with details, certain things seem to not add up. I would like the opinion of experienced divers here so that I can make thinks add for myself, as it is difficult to come to terms with these loose threads.
The local police, after a few hours, decided on suicide. The coroner's report was death by drowning.
Peter was in a group of 4 divers, doing the ITD Deep Air Course. He had a twin 10 and a 10 stage, all containing air. Upon recovery of his body, the stage was full, the twin contained 140 bar, consistent with the dive profile.
The facts as reported: the group lost Peter during the ascent (vis 2-4m), as he ostensibly swam toward the wall in order to ascend with a reference point. One of the divers first said that he swam for the wall in the company of another diver, later said that he went alone. The ascent was initiated at 50m.
On ascent, Peter was no longer around.
Purportedly, the course intructor went in again after 70 minutes, found Peter (his torch was still glowing) but was unable to raise him.
A day later, the course instructor went back in and raised him. According to his statement, both of Peter's inflator hoses were unattached, there was not a bit of air in Peter's drysuit (trilaminate) or jacket.
I know that many forms of misadventure can occur underwater, but something jars badly here: the course instructor went in A DAY LATER, without support from the local rescue divers (who, incidentally, are stationed about 500 meters away).
According to the surviving divers, all three were narced so badly that they are unable to remember anything except that Peter swam away from them. I find collective amnesia an interesting phenomenon.
The local police returned the dive computers to the three divers within hours. One diver thereupon immediately went to the airport and flew to Bali (a planned trip, mind you, not jumping off).
The examination of Peter's equipment revealed no anomalies, and he had been ice diving two weeks before with no problems (no icing up of reg or hoses).
The coroner's examination revealed nothing such as heart attack etc.
Peter's attorney refused to accept the suicide theory (as do all who know him) and has lodged an accusation of manslaughter.
Any opinions on this? Michael and I are pretty lost here because so much does not rhyme, especially the lack of official police divers to recover the body. The instructor (apparently) recovered the body SOLO. This is not normal procedure.
I am making no accusations here, or finding fault: one must assume that it was a stupid and senseless accident. But why then are the parties involved unable to agree from one day to the next on the details, and why the lack of police support?
Any ideas will be appreciated!
moray