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Saw this in the local paper - I haven't seen any posts on this one on SB yet.
Scuba diver airlifted off road - Published April 4, 2010
James Weldon, North Shore News
Published: Sunday, April 04, 2010
Drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway encountered an unusual sight Wednesday evening when a helicopter touched down on the Ansell Place overpass to pick up a scuba diver apparently suffering from the bends.
Emergency services were called to the area about three kilometres north of Horseshoe Bay just before 7 p.m. when someone reported that a 29-year-old Vancouver man had suffered a medical emergency.
It seems the man had been diving in the area near Ansell Point when he surfaced too quickly from a depth of about 30 metres -- an act that can cause dangerous gas bubbles to form in the blood, resulting in pain, paralysis and sometimes even death.
Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics rushed to the area, treated the man and bundled him on to a stretcher. West Vancouver police diverted traffic while an air ambulance touched down on the overpass, picked up the victim and flew him to hospital. He was released a few hours later.
Accidents are not unheard of in the popular dive sites around West Vancouver, said Const. Jeff Palmer, a spokesman for the WVPD.
In November 2008, a 61-year-old scuba instructor died of an unspecified condition during a lesson off Whytecliff Park. The same month, a 20-year-old California man had a close call in the area when he surfaced quickly after his mask started leaking.
It is not clear what caused the diver involved in Wednesday's incident to rise so rapidly, but police were not aware of any underwater emergency that might have triggered it. "It was possibly diver error," said Palmer.
Rock walls, an underwater cave and rich sea life have made Ansell Point a destination for local enthusiasts. Vancouver Diving gives it an advanced rating, noting that depth, ferry wake, and nearby fishing all pose dangers to divers.
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So it seems no seriour harm done.
On a side note - does anyone know where this "Cave" is at Ansell? I've never seen or heard of one there.
Scuba diver airlifted off road - Published April 4, 2010
James Weldon, North Shore News
Published: Sunday, April 04, 2010
Drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway encountered an unusual sight Wednesday evening when a helicopter touched down on the Ansell Place overpass to pick up a scuba diver apparently suffering from the bends.
Emergency services were called to the area about three kilometres north of Horseshoe Bay just before 7 p.m. when someone reported that a 29-year-old Vancouver man had suffered a medical emergency.
It seems the man had been diving in the area near Ansell Point when he surfaced too quickly from a depth of about 30 metres -- an act that can cause dangerous gas bubbles to form in the blood, resulting in pain, paralysis and sometimes even death.
Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics rushed to the area, treated the man and bundled him on to a stretcher. West Vancouver police diverted traffic while an air ambulance touched down on the overpass, picked up the victim and flew him to hospital. He was released a few hours later.
Accidents are not unheard of in the popular dive sites around West Vancouver, said Const. Jeff Palmer, a spokesman for the WVPD.
In November 2008, a 61-year-old scuba instructor died of an unspecified condition during a lesson off Whytecliff Park. The same month, a 20-year-old California man had a close call in the area when he surfaced quickly after his mask started leaking.
It is not clear what caused the diver involved in Wednesday's incident to rise so rapidly, but police were not aware of any underwater emergency that might have triggered it. "It was possibly diver error," said Palmer.
Rock walls, an underwater cave and rich sea life have made Ansell Point a destination for local enthusiasts. Vancouver Diving gives it an advanced rating, noting that depth, ferry wake, and nearby fishing all pose dangers to divers.
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So it seems no seriour harm done.
On a side note - does anyone know where this "Cave" is at Ansell? I've never seen or heard of one there.
I think it's just pretty much the wall and maybe some slightly overhung area somewhere along the wall.
