Scuba diver dies after complaining of gear malfunction

[caruso]

What kind of gear problem would make a diver comes up to the surface quickly?

The only things that come to mind are stuck BCD inflator or lost weightbelt/integrated weight pouches, or complete loss of gas supply with no alternative nearer than the surface.

 

[Dan]

I have never heard about a stuck BCD inflator lead to death of a diver. Any link to a case?

 

[caruso]

I have never heard about a stuck BCD inflator lead to death of a diver. Any link to a case?

If you're asking me, I've got nothing. I was just giving possible causes for a rapid ascent to the surface due to a gear problem. I've only read of a few incidents of a stuck BCD inflator and I don't recall any of them being a fatality. There is no reason to believe that was an issue in the accident that was the subject of this thread. Diver panic is much more likely.

 

[KathyV]

We've experienced a couple of seemingly small gear issues over the years but they could have caused panic and rapid ascent.

Once on a shore dive in Bonaire my husband's high pressure hose suddenly split. It was near the tank and he couldn't see what was happening but he could hear a loud bubbling noise. He signaled to me and as soon as I saw the problem I gave him my octopus and signaled that we should start going up. He used my octopus as we headed back to shore and we did our safety stop. When we came out on shore we were rather far from our car so I stayed with the equipment and he walked back to retrieve the car.

Another instance was a very minor issue, but I didn't know what was happening and so it was a bit frightening. I was in no danger because it was the end of the dive and we were doing our safety stop at the time, but the mouthpiece in my regulator suddenly split (and I may have been holding it rather loosely in my mouth) because my mouth suddenly filled with a rush of salt water. I grabbed my husband's octopus and finished out the safety stop and we figured out what had happened when we got back on board.

I feel very sorry for the diver that died and for her friends and family.

 

[Dan]

Hopefully someone is able to find such a case and provide a link. May be @DandyDon ?

Would rising up quickly from 37’ depth enough to cause a fatality?

 

[The Chairman]

Panic

While not a gear problem, panic is an emotional response that can be caused by a gear issue

 

[caruso]

Hopefully someone is able to find such a case and provide a link.

Pointless (to try to find a link to a fatality from a stuck bcd inflator). In the entire history of the sport, a stuck inflator never killed a diver. I can tell you that without even looking.

Would rising up quickly from 37’ depth enough to cause a fatality?

Only if they don't exhale. Or ended up beneath a spinning propeller or surfaced directly in the path of a speeding boat.

 

[CuzzA]

The gear issue was pre dive. Hard to say what. Probably a free flowing reg or stuck inflator. She appears to be relatively fit and looks younger than her age. Of course that doesn't mean much.

 

[CuzzA]

Hopefully someone is able to find such a case and provide a link. May be @DandyDon ?

Would rising up quickly from 37’ depth enough to cause a fatality?

I think it's more common than you think. How many fatalities? Who knows. I'm sure DCS is more likely, that is of course if you don't hold your breath. From 30 feet, 5 minutes into a dive, DCS wouldn't be at the top of my list in this unfortunate incident.

Last year I shared this incident.
Scuba incident/accident/Rescue via USCG Florida Middle Grounds 08/16/2018

 

[caruso]

I'm sure DCS is more likely, that is of course if you don't hold your breath.

You've got it backwards.