British woman injured in Malta

[DandyDon]

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121101/local/british-diver-dies.443511

The British woman who encountered difficulties while diving off Ċirkewwa yesterday has lost her life, the police said.
The 46-year-old diver needed help and was taken to hospital by ambulance, where it was established that her condition was critical.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121101/local/Diver-fights-for-her-life.443498

Previously posted: Diver fights for her life - timesofmalta.com

A British woman is fighting for her life after she encountered difficulties while diving off Ċirkewwa.
The police were informed at around 11.45am that a 46-year-old diver needed help, the police said in a statement.
An ambulance took the woman to hospital where it was established that her condition was critical.
Duty Magistrate Ian Farrugia appointed experts to help him in the inquiry. The police are investigating.

 

[LondonCelt]

Hi DandyDon - how ya doing mate.

I was there diving the day this happened - in fact the DiveMaster I had just finished a dive with was one of half a
dozen who jumped in and fished the poor woman out.

Conditions were getting a bit bad in terms of wave height but the guys did a great job getting her out the water - she was out within maybe a minute and a half of her being spotted on the surface.

A tourist who was there knew CRP etc and adminstered it for a long time - took about 40 mins for ambulance to come – too long franky but they did their best when they got there and were still working on her when they left. Police turned up withing 20+ minutes but one was soon standing about smoking.

The womans husband who was her buddy was in tears obviously. As were her children who were waiting for their parents.

Not good.

A lot of folk pretty shaken up seeing all this playing out in front of them.

Including me.

A few of our group opted not to go in for second dive after seeing this.
I went in but I can't get the image out me heid to be honest.

I don't know if anybody knows who she was but her family should know her fellow divers did all they could for her – in fact they put their own lives in danger as a few sustained injuries getting her out – bad cuts and bruises from being bashed by waves against the rocks but it could easily have been a heid against the rocks and not cut limbs.

Whether the time it took the ambulance to get there made a difference or not I'm not qualified to answer.

I've dived Cirkewwa a few times and for some reason I have always though it was pretty safe – even if anything did happen as it's right next to the Gozo ferry terminal I'd always assumed it was well covered for emergency services – clearly not the case.

Has really made me think about diving when I'm away with the family on holiday now.

God rest her.