Accident in Clear Lake, Oregon

[John C. Ratliff]

It occurs to me that a review of emergency procedures in light of this accident, with fatal results, is in order. What I observe is that the diver was found in about 40 feet of water on the north end of the lake. This means that he was negatively buoyant when the incident happened, and did not drop weights. If you drop weights in Clear Lake, they are gone into maybe ten feet of mud and silt. But, the idea is to become positively buoyant when an emergency hits.

The one other fatal accident in Clear Lake involved a diver using an At-Pak who apparently did not connect the low pressure inflator hose, and jumped in from a boat without his mouthpiece in his mouth. This was in the late 1970s or early 1980s. He was very negatively buoyant, and jumped in where the lake was quite deep (over 50 feet). He went to the bottom, was not able to get air, and apparently drowned. But again, he was negatively buoyant.

One technique we used years ago when free diving, and sometimes in scuba diving too, was if we were in an emergency situation, we took off our weight belt and held it in one hand. If we then blacked out (shallow water blackout when breath-hold diving), because we were out we would loose grip on the weight belt, and drop it. I'm not sure this is known or talked about anymore, but thought I would explain it again as a possible emergency measure. It works when the diver is unconscious, unlike trying to inflate a BC.

SeaRat

 

[Herb-alaska]

It occurs to me that a review of emergency procedures in light of this accident, with fatal results, is in order. What I observe is that the diver was found in about 40 feet of water on the north end of the lake. This means that he was negatively buoyant when the incident happened, and did not drop weights. If you drop weights in Clear Lake, they are gone into maybe ten feet of mud and silt. But, the idea is to become positively buoyant when an emergency hits.

The one other fatal accident in Clear Lake involved a diver using an At-Pak who apparently did not connect the low pressure inflator hose, and jumped in from a boat without his mouthpiece in his mouth. This was in the late 1970s or early 1980s. He was very negatively buoyant, and jumped in where the lake was quite deep (over 50 feet). He went to the bottom, was not able to get air, and apparently drowned. But again, he was negatively buoyant.

One technique we used years ago when free diving, and sometimes in scuba diving too, was if we were in an emergency situation, we took off our weight belt and held it in one hand. If we then blacked out (shallow water blackout when breath-hold diving), because we were out we would loose grip on the weight belt, and drop it. I'm not sure this is known or talked about anymore, but thought I would explain it again as a possible emergency measure. It works when the diver is unconscious, unlike trying to inflate a BC.

SeaRat

This is just my bet and it means nothing.. But I would not be surprised if this diver did not feel well , had some general muscle pain in his left arm maybe up into his jaw, later it turned into tighness of his chest and his inability to breathe. He thought I am going to sit this dive out and signaled and then turned his dive. What he thought was general not feeling well was in fact a MI and he did not dump his weights or push the elevator button because before he knew that he should do it he was unable to do it. I also would not have been surprised if he had ten buddy s beside him when the event happened and we would still have generally the same outcome except for the recovery. Diving solo or diving same ocean buddy is not what caused this death. I can't believe how everyone gets on the poor buddy skills this or that, if the autopsy says it was medical then i doubt anything short of having ALS or a hospital next to him would have saved him. Diving same ocean or diving solo is just simply about the amount of risk that the diver is willing to accept. It is also about the added risk that you are willing to accept for your family that is left behind. Diving out away from advanced life support and not having a clear picture of your personal health is also an added risk. Life is a risk it is just how much risk will you accept.

 

[Tamms]

Thank you for the comment of praying for all those involved. My son and his dad were the ones diving with him. They have all done many dives together and was my sons dad's best friend since high school. Very. Sad loss!

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Hi Tamms my heart goes out to you and yours. What a tragic situation. I want to give you some advice I received that helped me.

"The internet is only the internet. You don't have to answer questions unless you want to. Nobody on the internet has a right to answers feel free to ignore them" That advice helped me A LOT!

Nobody HERE was THERE so their opinions and comments may seem to be about your situation but they aren't in reality! People can and will look at the situation to come up with their theories to examine. They are just that.. theories. They may say.. "I would have XXXXX" but they can not KNOW what they would have or would have not done for sure since they weren't there! There is value in examining those theories to learn from the discussion.

Is there value in discussing theories and reminding ourselves of things that might make people safer in the future? Of course...but this event has happened the way it unfolded. Nothing we can say or do will change that. Life is about choices and everyone involved in this sad situation made the best choices they could with the information they had at the time. No matter how much we may wish we could go back and change our choices we can not! This did not happen as a result of not caring.

If we are honest most divers have been in situations where a person called a dive and ended it alone. It happens often, we get away with it so often that many people consider it a standard thing. We don't know what happened so we can not even say that if the others aborted their dive and went back with him it would have been possible to make a difference.

Please if you and I suspect the buddies keep reading here... remember the motivation of the posters is varied. No one wants to hurt anyone but I can guarantee things said here will hurt. Some people will post to learn so they can be safer, some will post to help others learn, some will post to feel safer like it couldn't happen to them because they would never *******. IMHO unfortunately some may even post for voyeuristic reasons or to feel superior they don't deserve to have their words respected enough to allow them to hurt but that is easier said than done!

 

[violamama]

Thank you for the comment of praying for all those involved. My son and his dad were the ones diving with him. They have all done many dives together and was my sons dad's best friend since high school. Very. Sad loss!

I'm so sorry, Tamms. I have been praying for peace for Mr. Ward's dive partners (your son and his dad) since I read the first article. My condolences to you all.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Thank you for the comment of praying for all those involved. My son and his dad were the ones diving with him. They have all done many dives together and was my sons dad's best friend since high school. Very. Sad loss!

Tamms,

Yes, your family has been in my prayers. This is a very difficult situation, and it is hard to try to comprehend. Clear Lake is such a wonderful dive! Please read over bowlofpetunias', the moderator's comments. He has some very good insights.

I have one request, although it may not now be possible. That is that the victim's air be tested for carbon monoxide (CO), if this has not already been done. CO can affect how a diver feels, and could be a reason for calling a dive. CO can also trigger a heart attack. If it has not already been done, at least a CO test of the air would remove this possibility. Jacques Cousteau and Frederick Dumas almost lost their lives to CO poisoning early in their diving career.

SeaRat

 

[jimmynemo2]

Absolutely! We are so sorry for your loss, and the words of bowlofpetunias words are spot on.

As divers, we analyze and dissect accidents for a variety of reasons, and with a variety of motives. I personally want to learn from every dive, where I can, my own and others. But even learning, and lessons for ourselves and our students, does not ever come close to the importance of compassion and I hope you know the dive community truly cares for our own.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and being a local diver, feel free to PM me if ever I can be of service to you. I can't even begin to comprehend what you're going through, but I want you to know you are loved, and that we hurt right along with you, and I'm so sorry for your pain.

And not at all just a platitude or kind words, know that my family is praying for your family. I hope God brings you comfort in this rough time.