Always count heads...

[DeepSeaDan]

A sad tale & some lessons to be learned:

Diver 'died of heart attack brought on by stress of saving friend from drowning' | Mail Online

Despite worse than usual dive-related reporting, this incident details a tragic example of how things can go from very bad to much, much worse when protocols are not followed. The only way to be able to handle things when the **** hits the fan is to train for & practice emergency response skills & procedures.

When I teach rescue diving I preach the necessity of the "team" approach to dealing with problems. It is one of the many reasons why all divers should be trained in dive rescue. Many trained heads focusing on an emergency event can be of great assistance to those designated ( such as a dive boat crew ) to lead the response.

If you haven't trained in rescue yet - get out there & sign up!

Please.

Regards,
DSD

 

[DandyDon]

Wow! Now that sucks. Really hard to follow the story as written, but it sounds like Robert Fox caught up to Michael O'Brien who had failed to control his descent, found him in trouble, then O'Brien made it to the surface rapidly without Fox, was rescued by boat crew, and when Fox made his ascent - the boat was gone. Is that how how you take the story?

From the questionable story, it does sound like O'Brien might have been diving out of his skills, at least screwed up in uncontrolled descent and rapid ascent. Got to wonder about the unrelated other death in the same group? A search for "David Allseybrook" brings up several stories about the two deaths and that Allseybrook was diving a rebreather. Here is but one.

BTW, I really like strong diver manifest security, not just roll calls and certainly not just counting heads. The boat I dived last week had the DM visit with each diver after each dive, noting basic info from each, always very careful to have their list of divers on board match leaving the site as it was leaving the dock.

 

[Wookie]

Counting heads is a crappy way to see if you can move the boat. I like looking each diver in the eye as I call roll and asking them how they feel. The non-verbal response is more telling than the verbal one. Anyone who does less is not doing the minimum required.

 

[Walter]

Frank, I would be happy to dive from your boat. Rolls call the way you've described is the only sure fire way to make sure you have everyone.

 

[DandyDon]

Counting heads is a crappy way to see if you can move the boat. I like looking each diver in the eye as I call roll and asking them how they feel. The non-verbal response is more telling than the verbal one. Anyone who does less is not doing the minimum required.

I remember that look...!

 

[H2O 70]

In this case a simple head count would have at least accounted for all the bodies, cognitive or not.

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

Easy to see how all attention ends up on a rescue, but this tragedy is strong reminder that forgetting all else can be lethal. That another diver from the same group died two days later is unbelievable.

Heart attack at 43. It sure seems that many diver fatalities are heart attacks. I can see how the stress of a rescue could contribute, but sometimes I have to wonder. Perhaps stress tests, etc. should be mandatory for insurance after a certain age. Since most live-aboards require insurance to board, it could save lives. I would imagine many dive without ever self-checking.

 

[Walter]

In this case a simple head count would have at least accounted for all the bodies, cognitive or not.

Maybe, maybe not. Head counts often count people twice. The only thing they are good for is as an indication that it's time to start the roll call.

 

[H2O 70]

Heart attack at 43. It sure seems that many diver fatalities are heart attacks. I can see how the stress of a rescue could contribute, but sometimes I have to wonder. Perhaps stress tests, etc. should be mandatory for insurance after a certain age.

There are already systems in place so I don't know how much more a stress test will really do. My Dr. looks at my blood tests (specifically HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol levels) and my BMI and my age and statistically shows me my chance of having some sort of cardiac issues.

We can put the burden of health onto the medical system and insurance system, but it really needs to lie with the individual. I can't tell you how many out of shape and overweight divers I've seen. Throw in a physically stressful situation and voila, recipe for disaster.

I'm in now way saying or implying that the victims mentioned in this thread were overweight or out of shape.

 

[DandyDon]

And roll calls suck, as some people will answer for others - thinking they're below deck when they are below water.

Eh, I wouldn't mind dying of a heart attack on a dive nearly as much as being left at sea. Since he was found below with the tank half full, it sounds like a submerged event. Can't help but wonder how the dive and rescue precipitated the event, but the stories don't give much insight.