Millstatt: Diver died in an accident
A fatal diving accident occurred on Lake Millstatt on Thursday evening. A 55-year-old man from Afritz (Villach-Land district) died after an emergency ascent from a depth of around 35 meters. A second diver survived the accident and was taken to the pressure chamber in Graz. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
June 1, 2023 9:33 p.m. (Update: June 2, 2023 12:48 p.m.)
The accident happened on Thursday around 6.30 p.m. at the popular diving spot between Pesenthein and Dellacher. The two divers were at a depth of a good 35 meters during their dive. When ascending from this depth, several decompression stops must be made so that the body can get used to the changed pressure conditions. Without these stops, a lung rupture can occur. In addition, nitrogen bubbles can form in the body of the diver, which are life-threatening.
Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful
The diver from Villach-Land and his diving buddy from the St. Veit district made the emergency ascent and got close to the shore. Two 15-year-old girls heard the cries for help and called 911. Cyclists, who also became aware of the men's plight, pulled the already unconscious 55-year-old to the shore. Although the rescue was on site after a short time and attempts at resuscitation were made, the 55-year-old died in the shore area.
His diving buddy was brought by helicopter to the decompression chamber of the Graz University Hospital. In this chamber, the diver who has suffered an accident is again exposed to increased ambient pressure. As a result, the nitrogen bubbles that have formed should shrink again and be broken down by the body. Doctors say the man is out of danger.
Cause of accident unknown
It is still unclear why the diving accident happened. Horst Tuppinger, head of the Spittal/Millstatt water rescue service, spoke of a “normal dive”: “At a depth of around 30 metres, one of the divers signaled to the other that he could no longer breathe. He then gave him a reserve controller and they initiated the emergency ascent.”
Tuppinger does not consider it very likely that a technical defect, such as icing of the diving device, could have led to the accident: "That is not to be assumed, but the second diver would have put it on record immediately. Something like that can happen, but that's why you dive with a diving buddy and always have double the air supply with you.” The public prosecutor's office seized the diving equipment for a detailed examination.
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