2009-11-13 death on Vandenberg

[Oceanus]

First, my deep condolences to the family and friends.

I regret to report there has been a death on the Vandenberg today. We have some preliminary information now and will update as appropriate.

http://seaduction.com/category/news/

• male
• rebreather
• outside wreck

Ironically I/we were just starting a new series of articles about rebreathers because as I just purchased my first rebreather (Dräger Dolphin).

 

[joystershell]

Breaking News – Tragedy Strikes Off Key West Florida This Afternoon!

Nov 13, 2009 | No Comments
A middle-aged male diver died while diving on the USNS Vandenberg wreck off Key West this afternoon, November 13, 2009. . . This is an ongoing investigation, all of the details are not yet available

 

[Cave Diver]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Condolences can be expressed here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/passings/311891-condolences-vandenberg-diver-11-13-09-a.html

A thread with more information about CCR's is located here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/rebreather-diving/311125-ccr-truths-misconceptions.html

As a reminder, this forum has special rules which will be enforced.

The purpose of this forum is the promotion of safe diving through the examination and discussion of accidents and incidents; to find lessons we can apply to our own diving.
Accidents, and incidents that could easily have become accidents, can often be used to illustrate actions that lead to injury or death, and their discussion is essential to building lessons learned from which improved safety can flow. To foster the free exchange of information valuable to this process, the "manners" in this forum are much more tightly controlled than elsewhere on the board. In addition to the TOS:

(1) You may not release any names here, until after the names have appeared in the public domain (articles, news reports, sherrif's report etc.) The releasing report must be cited. Until such public release, the only name you may use in this forum is your own.
(2) Off topic posts will be removed and off topic comments will be edited.
(3) No flaming, name calling or otherwise attacking other posters. You may attack ideas; you may not attack people.
(4) No trolling; no blamestorming. Mishap analysis does not lay blame, it finds causes.
(5) No "condolences to the family" here. Please use our Passings Forum for these kinds of messages.
(6) If you are presenting information from a source other than your own eyes and ears, cite the source.
(7) If your post is your hypothesis, theory, or a "possible scenario," identify it as such.
Thanks in advance,

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[Teamcasa]

More news:
Breaking News ? Tragedy Strikes Off Key West Florida This Afternoon! :: Seaduction ®

 

[Cave Diver]

http://seaduction.com/scuba-diving/vandenberg-death-rebreather/

News Release – Diver Dies Off Key West Florida
By Michael Ange

A middle-aged male diver died while diving on the USNS Vandenberg wreck off Key West this afternoon, November 13, 2009. The names of the victim and other dive team members have not yet been released pending notification of family members. This is an ongoing investigation, all of the details are not yet available and the facts reported are still pending review. The following details were made available. The following information was available: The diver was one of a three-person dive team that included a technical diving instructor candidate and his instructor trainer. It is not clear at this point what class they were completing; however, the divers were diving rebreathers at a maximum depth of 97 feet and the survivors have clearly reported that the dive was a non-penetration dive. The deceased diver is reported to have been an experienced rebreather diver with more than 50 hours logged on the unit he was diving.

While at depth, the diver began experiencing some form of problems that were either physiological or equipment related and began to make a rapid ascent. The instructor candidate is reported to have immediately responded, assisting the diver to the surface where he arrived unconscious. Both the instructor candidate and the IT omitted decompression stops to surface immediately and assist the injured diver. CPR was reportedly performed for more than 40 minutes, but to no avail as the diver was reported DOA at medical facilities on Stock Island. The other two divers reported what appeared to be mild symptoms of DCS probably resulting from their efforts to respond and rescue the victim. At the time of this writing, they were in route to a decompression treatment center in Miami for treatment.

Visibility on the site was reported to be approximately 40 feet with a mild to moderate current running southeast. There is no indication at this point as to whether or not the rebreather technology malfunctioned and this was clearly a non-penetration dive conducted on one of the main decks outside of the wreck. The accident occurred from the vessel M.V. Spree. By all accounts available at this time, both the supervising team in the water and the vessel’s crew responded effectively and made every effort to assist the injured diver. No further details are available at this time.

 

[Cave Diver]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Known facts: I will be adding them to this post as they come to light for easy reference.

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• Middle aged male diving the Vandenberg using a Sentinel Rebreather with 50+ logged hours of experience on unit
• Victims was Richard McCoy Jr., 51, from Cypress, TX
• Victim was a recreational trimix diluent student, part of a 3 man team
• Dives were conducted from the M/V Spree
• Visibility was reported at 40' with a mild current.
• Buddies were a technical diver instructor candidate (IC) diving an Evolution and his instructor trainer (IT) diving a Sentinel
• Dive was non-penetration with a max depth of 97' and a runtime of 34 minutes
• Victim experienced (unknown at this time) problems at depth and made a rapid ascent.
• Buddies omitted 6 minutes of deco to surface and assist victim.
• Victim arrived on surface unconscious and CPR was performed for 40 minutes.
• Victim was reported DOA at medical facilities on Stock Island.
• Buddies were reported to be showing mild symptoms of DCS.
• The IC was evaluated at the Lower Keys Med Center and released.
• The IT went to the chamber at Mercy.
• Monroe County SO has the CCR, bailout and computers.
  
  

 

[Wookie]

Maybe so, but I will keep the boards informed. Please let me speak to next of kin and tell the story before they read it here. Public information is that the victim was a recreational dil student diving a Sentinel. The instructor candidate was diving an Evolution. The Instructor Trainer was diving a Sentinel. The gas the student was diving had no bearing on the incident. Profile on the buddies was 97/34. 6 minutes of deco was omitted by the team. The IT is at the chamber at Mercy. The Instructor Candidate was evaluated at Lower Keys Med Ctr and released. Monroe County SO has the unit, bailout, computers. I am still waiting for some crew and buddy statements, and do not want to influence that process.

Frank

 

[TSandM]

Can anyone give a quick capsule view of the Sentinel, for those of us who will be following this thread with interest?

 

[ianr33]

Can anyone give a quick capsule view of the Sentinel, for those of us who will be following this thread with interest?

http://www.technologyindepth.com/sentinelinfo.html

 

[Oceanus]

There was a problem with the URL changing (too many cooks).

The original post is correct, but here it is again

Breaking News ? Tragedy Strikes Off Key West Florida This Afternoon! :: Seaduction ®