Scuba diver drowns near gloucester

[Rick L]

From todays boston herald

A belmont man apparently drowned scuba diving on a wreck just outside gloucester harbor yesterday. The coast gaurd said.
"Somehow the regulator from his tank either froze up or got out of his mouth somehow" said petty officer adriano agostino.
The diver whose name police withheld, and a dozen other people on the cape ann diver 2, a gloucester based charter boat,were diving a shipwreck in about 100 feet of 30 degree water just outside gloucester harbor.



Damn sounds like the chester poling?
Rick L

 

[O-ring]

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There was a diving fatality yesterday on the wreck of the Chester A. Poling (stern section, 100 fsw) off Eastern Point in Gloucester, MA. A single tank diver was found unconscious and out of air at approximately 85-90 fsw on the wreck. He had been diving alone. A diver surfaced off the wreck to alert those onboard that a diver was in trouble.

Another diver brought the victim to the surface where he was
subsequently recovered by a Coast Guard vessel, which was one of two that had been called on scene. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. A helicopter met with the vessel at the USCG station in Gloucester. The diver had been diving from the Cape Ann Diver (Cape Ann Divers, Gloucester, MA).

Our group also diving on site and aboard the Donna III assisted a recovery swimmer in the effort. Approximately 30 min elapsed from the time the captains and crew on the Cape Ann Diver were made aware of the problem to the time of recovery of the victim by the USCG vessel. Two rescue swimmers from the Cape Ann Diver escorted the victim to the USCG vessel. Water temperature was 35-36 degrees and air temperature was 28-30 degrees. Seas were approximately 3 feet with winds West-Southwest 15-20 kt.

The following is speculation: The diver likely experienced a free-flow early in his dive, which emptied his tank rapidly on the bottom and the diver drowned. It is unclear why the diver was not brought to the surface by the first diver to encounter the victim.
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The accident analysis here is pretty easy - solo diving, possible free flow.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends.

 

[shellbird]

My prayers go out to his family and to all of my Cape Ann friends.

 

[Rick L]

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/041/metro/Belmont_man_dead_after_scuba_mishap+.shtml

Yes mine too shellbird!!
Not a good start for the year.
rick L

 

[Adam Samansky]

My thoughts and prayers are also shared with the family and diving community. Let's try to give him a positive legacy, by studying this event, learning as much as possible, and striving to avoid such incidents in the future!

A very tearful, Adam

 

[ericfine50]

This is very sad. If you look at it from an Accident Analysis standpoint - Should of been with a buddy, and used a redundant air souce (h-valve, doubles, pony rigged as a stage). This could of been avoided.

Eric

 

[notabob]

What a horrible tragedy, and so close to home! My thoughts are with the deceased and his family and friends.

-Roman.

 

[shellbird]

The last diver I read about drowning, was also in his 50s. Is it just me or is this a trend?

 

[jepuskar]

shellbird once bubbled...
The last diver I read about drowning, was also in his 50s. Is it just me or is this a trend?

Your kidding right, or are you just asking to be flamed?

 

[shellbird]

Meant no disrespect. Would be curious to know the numbers on this though.