Diver dies in Veracruz inside a wreck during his certification

[Socorro Chub]

Dear all,

It is always sad to share this kind of news. Let´s hope we can learn from this untimely death and follow the rules for safe diving.

The information on the link

Muere un buzo en playas del puerto

Condolences to the family and friends.
Socorro Chub

 

[Blue Sparkle]

This is not a great translation (Google translate), but it gives the gist.

Diver dies in harbor beach

Angel Camacho Nila 45 years of age, residing in the Federal District, died in his attempt to be a certified diver. On an expedition with classmates, but missed and was without oxygen, and later was rescued lifeless

Sunday, August 8, 2010
DE LA redacción From the editors

Veracruz.- A diver who practiced within the ship C-50, was out of their peer group, running out of air. The diver was a native of Mexico City and died on arrival to the shores of Martí.

The accident that killed Angel Camacho Nila 45 years of age, residing in the Federal District, was in trying to get to be a certified diver, but died from lack of oxygen. The incident occurred four miles from the port, about 8 km, where the boat was sunk gunboat Mexico Navy C-50.

He was with four companions, including Jesus Rafael Martínez García and guide was the diver, Rodolfo López Aguilera. For this leased from the City of Mexico, a boat, equipment and oxygen tanks, the company Underwater World.

Everything went normally, but apparently missed Angel Camacho Nila inside the boat, within a corridor with their peers. Returning to leave the ship, water thinned with sediment, obscuring everything. Unfortunately, Camacho Nila, stayed to the end, not realizing the route taken by the other, lost.

Would-be divers reached the surface, but Angel Camacho, as the group leader Rodolfo Aguilera Lopez reported the driver of the boat, the same who called the company responsible for the Underwater World to go in your search. Another boat sailed to the site, led by Francisco Espresatie Biosca 38 years of age, responsible for the leasing of boats and diving equipment.

The diver went down about 25 feet, with three others to the ship, managing to find Angel Camacho. He had no oxygen in his tank, leading to the surface, where they gave him first aid, but was unconscious breathing. They reached the shore of beach Martí, where Red Cross staff, and expected. Nila Angel Camacho apparently despaired at finding lost and ran out of oxygen quickly.

Aid workers confirmed that it had no vital signs and called the presence of judicial authority. The staff of the Agency of Public Prosecutions II, carried out of the body, with staff of expert services.

 

[sffrenchman]

I hope that this is a translation problem but were they doing a wreck penetration on a certification dive????

This is not a great translation (Google translate), but it gives the gist.

Diver dies in harbor beach

Angel Camacho Nila 45 years of age, residing in the Federal District, died in his attempt to be a certified diver. On an expedition with classmates, but missed and was without oxygen, and later was rescued lifeless

Sunday, August 8, 2010
DE LA redacción From the editors

Veracruz.- A diver who practiced within the ship C-50, was out of their peer group, running out of air. The diver was a native of Mexico City and died on arrival to the shores of Martí.

The accident that killed Angel Camacho Nila 45 years of age, residing in the Federal District, was in trying to get to be a certified diver, but died from lack of oxygen. The incident occurred four miles from the port, about 8 km, where the boat was sunk gunboat Mexico Navy C-50.

He was with four companions, including Jesus Rafael Martínez García and guide was the diver, Rodolfo López Aguilera. For this leased from the City of Mexico, a boat, equipment and oxygen tanks, the company Underwater World.

Everything went normally, but apparently missed Angel Camacho Nila inside the boat, within a corridor with their peers. Returning to leave the ship, water thinned with sediment, obscuring everything. Unfortunately, Camacho Nila, stayed to the end, not realizing the route taken by the other, lost.

Would-be divers reached the surface, but Angel Camacho, as the group leader Rodolfo Aguilera Lopez reported the driver of the boat, the same who called the company responsible for the Underwater World to go in your search. Another boat sailed to the site, led by Francisco Espresatie Biosca 38 years of age, responsible for the leasing of boats and diving equipment.

The diver went down about 25 feet, with three others to the ship, managing to find Angel Camacho. He had no oxygen in his tank, leading to the surface, where they gave him first aid, but was unconscious breathing. They reached the shore of beach Martí, where Red Cross staff, and expected. Nila Angel Camacho apparently despaired at finding lost and ran out of oxygen quickly.

Aid workers confirmed that it had no vital signs and called the presence of judicial authority. The staff of the Agency of Public Prosecutions II, carried out of the body, with staff of expert services.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

My Spanish is not good enough to go through it word by word, so I can't be sure. But the person who initially posted did put that in the title (and is in Veracruz). Also, there are a few other "corroborating" things mentioned in the article, such as "corridor" and things being silted out.

 

[farsidefan1]

I would assume the diver was working on his wreck diving certification. When I took the class the final dive involved the instructor following me inside the wreck and then she proceeded to kick up as much silt as possible. My job was to follow my line to the exterior. We didn't do a major penetration ie. we did not go through long corridors with lots of twists and turns. It was left as my job to continue practicing skills. The class involves multiple dives to the interior, anyone of which would be of an advanced nature. If one does not have good propulsion skills it is easy to create a "silt out" leaving one lost and blind in an overhead environment. Condolences to the family.

 

[Socorro Chub]

Apparently he was working for a certification, but there is no mention to what level or sort. That's what most newspapers report. I also found one mentioning that he had experience ....

NOTIVER | La Noticia en el Momento que Sucede - Confirman que fue accidente trágedia en cañonero.

The wreck is very nice and it has man made openings to allow divers to get in and out easily. It is true that in some areas visibility is almost nill and it could be a stress factor for some divers. There is an ongoing investigation. So, we need to wait for the facts to be gathered.

Reefs at Veracruz had a larger area than any other reefs in Mexico. About 300 wrecks from colonial times to now. One does not get this kind of tragic events in many years. Apparently the guide came from Mexico City with a group for a weekend dive but did not hire a local divemaster just the boat (something to check because in other places, e.g. in Cozumel, a local guide is always required).

What else could have been done to avoid this tragic death?

 

[Ocean One]

Mr. Chub, Our condolences on the death of a fellow diver. You ask, "What could have been done to avoid this tragic death?" With the little information we have and the translation (Thanks for doing your best!) It would be pure speculation at it worst!!!! I am sure the authorities will investigate and come to an informed conclusion as to what actually happened. In the meantime, respect the family's privacy and pray for the lost fellow diver!

 

[The Chairman]

When I took the class the final dive involved the instructor following me inside the wreck and then she proceeded to kick up as much silt as possible.

This is wrong on so many levels. Blacking out the mask or having you do it with your eyes closed is far more responsible. Intentionally silting out the environment so even the instructor could not supervise you adequately is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

This is the Google Translate translation of the second article linked to. It gives more of an idea of what happened (although of course it's hard to tell how accurate it may be). I would guess that "employer" should have been translated as "diver."

Socorro Chub, it must really hit you since it happened in your home patch.

By YOLANDA ORDAZ
Reportera de NOTIVER Notiver Reporter

The prosecution of this city confirmed that the employer Nila Angel Camacho died of anoxia from drowning, in the unfortunate accident on Saturday in the reef area where a group of hikers through visits to the sunken ship of the Navy of Mexico.

The investigation determined that Mr. Camacho Nila 45 years of age, but had experience in diving and practiced it professionally, drowned, when he was caught in the engine room of the ship.

It was unfortunate that wrapped in an instant group of divers from the Federal District, who were on a visit to the sunken ship in the reef area, about four miles from the beach Martí.

"It will be recalled, these events occurred at noon on Saturday 7 August, when half a dozen divers entered the sea on the boat" Underwater World "which just hired to make the journey.

Data revealed by the ministerial authorities and Civil Protection became aware of what happened, based on the testimony of the companions of the now deceased, who described the danger that went into the deep.

The employer Angel Camacho was moving normally, as were his friends, and when they were in the engine room of the sunken ship, somewhat clouded the area, so they decided to exit immediately.

Nila M. Camacho failed to do their peers, since some of them had to remove the tank of oxygen to pass through a window, and the employer was in despair, unable to leave.

The lungs of Mr. Camacho did not resist, after a few minutes maneuvers died when they gave first aid on board the boat which took them back to the beach.

"The time was crucial for Mr. Camacho, who was dead in the boat. His body was deposited in the sand, looks of pain surrounding his colleagues who knew at that time that return to Mexico without him.

In the scene, authorities of Public Prosecutions conducted the formal proceedings of the case.

The prosecutor of this port, licensed Ramar Mendoza Diaz, head of the First Agency of MP made contact with deceased relatives today, and streamlined the steps to be undertaken the transfer of the body this weekend.

Mr. Adolfo López Aguilera 48-year-old, who was in charge of the group of walkers, and touched also face legal proceedings that took place even until Sunday.

 

[alewar]

A short summary from this article: http://www.imagendelgolfo.com.mx/resumen.php?id=192052

The guy (Ángel Camacho) was diving the reefs as part of a group of five. When they saw the wreck of the C-50 General Vicente Riva Palacios he and his buddy separated from the group and penetrated the wreck down to the machine room. At that point they silted the water, lost visibility and panicked. His buddy removed his tank and made it through a hatch, leaving tank and Ángel inside the wreck. On the surface he met the other 3 guys and they descended to try to rescue Ángel but the silted waters made that impossible. They resurfaced again and asked the boat operator for help. This time they found him, his tank was empty and reanimation efforts were in vane.

Very sad, but it looks like the textbook-example of what not to do.