Wanted to share this very near miss with the group. I'm still a bit shaken as it only happened 5 days ago, but really glad to have had the experience.
* * *
We had just completed open water exercise 1 & 2 in the Padi Rescue course, surfaced and met on the bow of the boat for a debrief. Suddenly the instructor pointed at a diver about 150 ft off the bow and said who is that diver? Thinking it was yet another drill, we groaned at the distance we would have to swim to complete yet another fake rescue.
The diver was obviously not behaving normally and appeared in distress. Is this another exercise we inquired? No our instructor said, it is real. Still not believing him, we watched for a few more seconds as the diver splashed around, then, went limp face down in the water. The student who had military rescue experience grabbed his gear and buddy, I hustled to find flotation devices for the two students before they set out on the rescue. As they swam, I quickly found mask/banging object so the DMT, assistant on the course, could recall the other two open water classes.
The rescue students arrived at the victim, turned him over as we learned in class, to find an unconscious diver, gurgling, shaking, no reg in his mouth, but still alive and breathing.
While the other two students started towing and I slipped down and started assembling the oxygen system. About this time another instructor and his class surfaced & quickly swam towards the students/victim to help out. The rest went fast two classes of Open Water students clamoring up the ladder (instructors/DMT directing), the victim arrived at the boat, was pulled on board, oxygen mask on, his body violently seizing and twitching. Above the noise I screamed for a roll call quick roll call proved nobody left behind. At least 3 instructors, 3 DMT, 3 rescue students, 1 or 2 DMT worked to keep his body still. For me, it was so surrealistic to remove his fins and hold his writhing body. Soon the OW students calmed and the oxygen flowed.
The boat raced towards the recompression chamber, the instructor switched to CF oxygen as the patients breath became shallower and at one point promised to stop. OW students fought tears back. So many qualified rescuers, at this point I sat back, subordinate to the others awaiting direction and comforting the OW students. Just when we were almost out of oxygen, we pulled up at the chamber and the patient was carried in.
He apparently left one OW group to swim to another. Based on his location, he most likely got lost between groups. He remembers fear and hyperventilating, then to the surface. It is estimated that his (most likely rapid-non-breathing ascent) occurred in 12-14 m of water and resulted in an embolism in his brain. After 7-8 trips to the recompression chamber he is doing much better and is projected to make a 100% recovery but no diving for quite a while.
For me, it was one hell of a rescue course. Suddenly theory became reality and the application of practiced skills became crystal clear. Had we not surfaced when we did, he would be dead. Had our instructor not spotted him, he would be dead. Had the students not had the skills they just learned he may be dead. Our boat of skilled divers saved his life.
I wish I helped more, but am so glad I learned the skills to help some & knew what was happening. I may even take another rescue course with more sincere intention.
Where this happened is not important. The incident could happen anywhere, anytime to any of us. It stresses the need to learn and develop rescue skills! The need to continuously practice rescue skills, so they are automatic in a stressful situation. It stresses following basic scuba rules such as diving with a buddy, slow ascents and continous breathing.
The divers main mistake was diving alone. So Please, Please, Please everyone- dive within your limits & the body's limits, stay with a partner, sharpen up on rescue skills and be careful. It was really scary & I am amazed he will make a recovery - many are not so lucky!
* * *
We had just completed open water exercise 1 & 2 in the Padi Rescue course, surfaced and met on the bow of the boat for a debrief. Suddenly the instructor pointed at a diver about 150 ft off the bow and said who is that diver? Thinking it was yet another drill, we groaned at the distance we would have to swim to complete yet another fake rescue.
The diver was obviously not behaving normally and appeared in distress. Is this another exercise we inquired? No our instructor said, it is real. Still not believing him, we watched for a few more seconds as the diver splashed around, then, went limp face down in the water. The student who had military rescue experience grabbed his gear and buddy, I hustled to find flotation devices for the two students before they set out on the rescue. As they swam, I quickly found mask/banging object so the DMT, assistant on the course, could recall the other two open water classes.
The rescue students arrived at the victim, turned him over as we learned in class, to find an unconscious diver, gurgling, shaking, no reg in his mouth, but still alive and breathing.
While the other two students started towing and I slipped down and started assembling the oxygen system. About this time another instructor and his class surfaced & quickly swam towards the students/victim to help out. The rest went fast two classes of Open Water students clamoring up the ladder (instructors/DMT directing), the victim arrived at the boat, was pulled on board, oxygen mask on, his body violently seizing and twitching. Above the noise I screamed for a roll call quick roll call proved nobody left behind. At least 3 instructors, 3 DMT, 3 rescue students, 1 or 2 DMT worked to keep his body still. For me, it was so surrealistic to remove his fins and hold his writhing body. Soon the OW students calmed and the oxygen flowed.
The boat raced towards the recompression chamber, the instructor switched to CF oxygen as the patients breath became shallower and at one point promised to stop. OW students fought tears back. So many qualified rescuers, at this point I sat back, subordinate to the others awaiting direction and comforting the OW students. Just when we were almost out of oxygen, we pulled up at the chamber and the patient was carried in.
He apparently left one OW group to swim to another. Based on his location, he most likely got lost between groups. He remembers fear and hyperventilating, then to the surface. It is estimated that his (most likely rapid-non-breathing ascent) occurred in 12-14 m of water and resulted in an embolism in his brain. After 7-8 trips to the recompression chamber he is doing much better and is projected to make a 100% recovery but no diving for quite a while.
For me, it was one hell of a rescue course. Suddenly theory became reality and the application of practiced skills became crystal clear. Had we not surfaced when we did, he would be dead. Had our instructor not spotted him, he would be dead. Had the students not had the skills they just learned he may be dead. Our boat of skilled divers saved his life.
I wish I helped more, but am so glad I learned the skills to help some & knew what was happening. I may even take another rescue course with more sincere intention.
Where this happened is not important. The incident could happen anywhere, anytime to any of us. It stresses the need to learn and develop rescue skills! The need to continuously practice rescue skills, so they are automatic in a stressful situation. It stresses following basic scuba rules such as diving with a buddy, slow ascents and continous breathing.
The divers main mistake was diving alone. So Please, Please, Please everyone- dive within your limits & the body's limits, stay with a partner, sharpen up on rescue skills and be careful. It was really scary & I am amazed he will make a recovery - many are not so lucky!
