Diver rescued off of Port Aransas TX

[DandyDon]

Coast Guard Rescues Diver | Corpus Christi, TX | KRISTV.com |

PORT ARANSAS -- A 60 year old man is recovering after he was hurt during a diving accident this afternoon about 32miles off the coast of Port Aransas.
The crew of the diving boat administered CPR while they waited for a coast guard helicopter to take the diver to a local hospital.
The man's condition isn't known and there are no detials about the nature of the accident.

 

[korvette]

This appears to be the update on who it was:

Aransas Pass Scuba Diver Rescued - KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

PORT ARANSAS (Kiii News) - An Aransas Pass scuba diver, Captain Brent Casey, is lucky to be alive Monday, after his scuba gear malfunctioned over the weekend off the coast of Port Aransas.

He was more than 140-feet beneath the surface at the time.

"All that was going through my mind was, this is not happening. This can't be. And I'm thinking about grand kids, kids and my wife. And I'm going, 'I'm not going, I'm not going to leave. I can't go,'' Casey said. "It was the most peaceful feeling."

Was this a near death experience? Maybe.

The 60-year old has been diving the Gulf of Mexico for more than 30 years. He operates his own fishing charters and gulf expeditions, so being out in the middle of the Gulf and in the ocean is nothing new.

On Sunday, he was helping out Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi's Harte Institute, checking on some underwater sensors that monitor fish migrations; but at around 3 p.m., 32 miles off the coast of Port Aransas, the unexpected happened.

His equipment indicated his tanks were out of oxygen.

"It happened so fast. I put the regulator in my mouth. Cleared again. I took in a breath of air and when I did, it was water," Casey said. "I sucked in water and I got choked. I hit the purge button held it, and it was like blowing water down my throat instead of air."

Unconscious, Casey was brought back up to the ship and administered CPR. A Coast Guard helicopter transported him to Spohn Shoreline Hospital where he underwent hyperbaric treatment to de-pressurize his body.

Casey's recollection of what happened is vague, but he emerged with a better understanding.

"I know what's on the other side, and I know there's a God," Casey said, "and yesterday wasn't my time. And I believe that wholeheartedly. I'm going try to be a better husband, a better father and the greatest grandfather that's ever lived."

Casey said he has so many people to thank who were onboard the ship Orion. He said he will forever be grateful to them for their lifesaving skills, training and dedication.

And as far as going back out for more dives, he said he doesn't plan to stop any time soon.

 

[DandyDon]

Who! Reg failure at 140, no back up, passed out - amazing to be alive.

 

[coglesby]

One sentence says his equipment malfunctioned.....and one line says his equipment indicated his tanks were out of the obligatory media reference of "oxygen." So, wonder which it was? A true OOA or reg failure?

 

[Bratface]

Dandy, it doesn't say he didn't have a back up reg....of course, what would a reporter even know about that considering we all breathe "oxygen". Anyhow, I do agree, he is very lucky to be alive. Bet he even saw angels.:angel::angel::angel:

 

[DandyDon]

Dandy, it doesn't say he didn't have a back up reg....of course, what would a reporter even know about that considering we all breathe "oxygen". Anyhow, I do agree, he is very lucky to be alive. Bet he even saw angels.:angel::angel::angel:

It seemed to say he sucked water and passed out - or drowned and was saved. Anything going bad at 140 ft is bad, and passed out at 140 is hard to survive.

 

[ianr33]

Dandy, it doesn't say he didn't have a back up reg....of course, what would a reporter even know about that considering we all breathe "oxygen". Anyhow, I do agree, he is very lucky to be alive. Bet he even saw angels.:angel::angel::angel:

If he had a backup reg then this would have been a complete non event ........................

 

[DandyDon]

If he had a backup reg then this would have been a complete non event ........................

At 140 ft, a good buddy and/or ready pony seems pretty important, but it sounds like he had neither at hand.

It does sound odd tho: "I sucked in water and I got choked. I hit the purge button held it, and it was like blowing water down my throat instead of air." I'm sorry, but that sounds like an elementary error.

 

[AfterDark]

What force was blowing water down his throat if he was OOA? Was he OOA or was the reg leaking in water?











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[darushin]

At 140 ft, a good buddy and/or ready pony seems pretty important, but it sounds like he had neither at hand.

It does sound odd tho: "I sucked in water and I got choked. I hit the purge button held it, and it was like blowing water down my throat instead of air." I'm sorry, but that sounds like an elementary error.

Actually I read that and thought first stage failure. If the first stage failed with air in the tank he hit the purge button and the air force water through to the second stage then it would be like having a water hose in your mouth.

Daru