Scuba diver drowns while working on project
TRENT RIVER TRAGEDY
By JEROME LESSARD AND ERNST KUGLIN, SUN MEDIA
An Ottawa scuba diver drowned in the Trent River Tuesday, despite dramatic attempts to rescue him.
The Ministry of Labour is investigating the death of the diver following the accident on Dam 1 of the waterway, in Trenton's north end.
The name of the deceased diver has not been released.
According to Ministry of Labour spokesperson Bruce Skeaff, the diver was working for ODS Marine of Ottawa. He said the firm was contracted by Parks Canada Oct. 2 to carry out cleaning operations along the waterway.
Initial reports indicated the diver became trapped while removing logs at Dam 1 on the Trent River.
Skeaff said the diver became stuck while in four metres of water. He said the ministry dispatched their own divers to the scene in order to help with the rescue attempt.
At one point, said Skeaff, one of the ministry divers supplied air to the trapped man.
"I don't have all the details on that. It was information I received on the phone,'' he said.
Quinte West fire Chief John Whelan said the diver was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 a. m. following attempts to revive him.
Other details on how events unfolded have not been confirmed, but it's believed the man had been working underwater along the dam and became stuck under one of the wooden spillways.
Fellow dive team members called for help at about 9:20 a. m. when the diver did not surface. At that point, reports to rescue officials said, he'd been down for five minutes without contact from the surface. It would be more than two hours before his body was recovered and resuscitation efforts would be called off.
TRENT RIVER TRAGEDY
By JEROME LESSARD AND ERNST KUGLIN, SUN MEDIA
An Ottawa scuba diver drowned in the Trent River Tuesday, despite dramatic attempts to rescue him.
The Ministry of Labour is investigating the death of the diver following the accident on Dam 1 of the waterway, in Trenton's north end.
The name of the deceased diver has not been released.
According to Ministry of Labour spokesperson Bruce Skeaff, the diver was working for ODS Marine of Ottawa. He said the firm was contracted by Parks Canada Oct. 2 to carry out cleaning operations along the waterway.
Initial reports indicated the diver became trapped while removing logs at Dam 1 on the Trent River.
Skeaff said the diver became stuck while in four metres of water. He said the ministry dispatched their own divers to the scene in order to help with the rescue attempt.
At one point, said Skeaff, one of the ministry divers supplied air to the trapped man.
"I don't have all the details on that. It was information I received on the phone,'' he said.
Quinte West fire Chief John Whelan said the diver was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 a. m. following attempts to revive him.
Other details on how events unfolded have not been confirmed, but it's believed the man had been working underwater along the dam and became stuck under one of the wooden spillways.
Fellow dive team members called for help at about 9:20 a. m. when the diver did not surface. At that point, reports to rescue officials said, he'd been down for five minutes without contact from the surface. It would be more than two hours before his body was recovered and resuscitation efforts would be called off.
