Unknown Cave fatality at Twin Caves, Marianna, FL.

[kammel78]

In what way?
Bonbon joined the forum to discuss it.

Should we just allow our minds to wonder and post misinformation in the thread as apparently was already posted with the “Edd Sorensen comment”

Here's the thing...people are always going to be curious and want more information. Sometimes that can come off as being insensitive.

People close to the situation, either because they were there or close to the victim, or have lost close ones in other similar situations, can come off sounding overly sensitive. And understandably so.

I think the best course is to give everyone grace to come off overly sensitive or insensitive and just assume positive intent.

 

[The Chairman]

I think the best course is to give everyone grace to come off overly sensitive or insensitive and just assume positive intent.

Awesome post, thanks! People post as they can and as they see fit. They owe us nothing and we are in no position to demand information. Those who regularly dive caves desire information about these incidents so we can avoid the same mistakes or to find out if it's someone we know. Google is your frienemy.

 

[DOBY]

First off, to the two members of the dive team, sorry for your loss and having to experience such a tragic event.

The initial news report appears (not surprised) to contain a lot of misinformation which might have confused trained cave divers. Such as what could have caused a team to become separated, and why the rule of thirds didn’t work for the deceased once separated, and/or what prevented the donation of a long hose to get the victim out? Initially it looked as there might have been something to learn without having to mention any name(s).

But the follow up news article with Edd shed a lot of light on these questions. There was no rescue. It was a body recovery, and it appears the victim was a trained cave diver who became unresponsive for some unknown reason. If it was a medical event and there was nothing that could be done, the team did their best to get the victim out and not much to be learned. I have no experience exiting an unresponsive diver from a cave but know I would certainly cause a silt out doing so and have a very hard time getting myself out, let alone an unresponsive diver.

It appears from the second article that the victim was on a CCR with a remote possibility could have suffered a hyperoxia or hypoxia event. But will not know until computer is examined. Either way doesn’t appear there’s really anything new to learn. Unless there was a serious task loading issue such as silt out, equipment problem, etc.; that could have attributed to a potential hyperoxia/hypoxia/hypercapnia event (if not medical).

 

[billgraham]

I was one of the “ saved” persons .. however I was never lost or trouble . My friend was definitely a trained cave diver.

I'm sorry for your loss and glad everyone else is ok.

 

[cerich]

Can you enlighten the class on the rest of the details or are we not privy to that information?

Here is a wonderful tribute to the diver that passed


Beyond that , in this thread is posts by the divers buddy. Mehdi found and recovered Steve, there were no rescues very sadly. Please keep all of the family, friends, dive team of the deceased and Mehdi in your thoughts. It's hard on them all.

What class?

I am not privy to all the information really, I have a bunch of questions in my mind as well, it's natural but from what I know (very little actually) I don't even want to guess and am hoping that the coroner's report will shed some light. If it doesn't, maybe (?)the sheriff's dept report when done. Yes, most know I am very close friends with Edd and friends with Mehdi. My conversation with Edd didn't give me anything in any way that would lead me to any conclusion, not least because Edd didn't do the recovery. Mehdi, we talked about head space after recovering one, because this was his first and I have done too many and teach public safety diving as well as someone who advocates for veterans around mental health issues. Didn't ask him for any details and the only thing we discussed in any detail at all about the recovery was he mentioned the deceased's DPV and his and it was a PITA when he was trying to manage the body and two DPV's, I made the comment, "man, screw the scooters, drop and get later", he said "I did after a little while and it was easier" and we moved on. We talked more about recoveries I had done and how and why doing body recovery underwater is often very different mentally than say rolling up on a car accident or in fires and there is a fatality (I was also a vol firefighter for a while)

I don't expect a IUCRR report, because they have a crap track record in general and other reasons that have NADA to do with the accident as far as I know, politics is my take there. I do however expect that when the coroner and sheriff is done we will know all there is to know.

Again, Steve was a talented, loved guy, trained and long term diver and cave diver. The dive they were doing is yes a cave dive, but not extreme by any means and I am not aware of anything glaring that makes me think..anything other than sad to hear he passed.

 

[kammel78]

I am not privy to all the information really, I have a bunch of questions in my mind as well, it's natural but from what I know (very little actually) I don't even want to guess and am hoping that the coroner's report will shed some light. If it doesn't, maybe (?)the sheriff's dept report when done. Yes, most know I am very close friends with Edd and friends with Mehdi. My conversation with Edd didn't give me anything in any way that would lead me to any conclusion, not least because Edd didn't do the recovery. Mehdi, we talked about head space after recovering one, because this was his first and I have done too many and teach public safety diving as well as someone who advocates for veterans around mental health issues. Didn't ask him for any details and the only thing we discussed in any detail at all about the recovery was he mentioned the deceased's DPV and his and it was a PITA when he was trying to manage the body and two DPV's, I made the comment, "man, screw the scooters, drop and get later", he said "I did after a little while and it was easier" and we moved on. We talked more about recoveries I had done and how and why doing body recovery underwater is often very different mentally than say rolling up on a car accident or in fires and there is a fatality (I was also a vol firefighter for a while)

Glad to hear that you checked in with Medhi. Being able to talk it through with someone who has the experience that you and Edd have, and put that experience in some perspective is invaluable and knowing Medhi, I know he greatly appreciates the value of that shoulder. Good looking out, Chris.

 

[Six Feet Under]

He was a good guy, and very knowledgeable about local caves near where we lived. Stuff off the beaten path and on private property, mostly. Always enjoyable to talk to and a very good friend to others in my circle of buddies as well... definitely a sad event!

 

[BonBon]

Sounds like Edd added two more saves to his list of accomplishments.

The other two divers were NOT rescued. One was on the dock calling for Edd while the other tried to assist the distressed diver. She located the diver multiple times and tried to assist. She exited the cave only after the rescue diver told her too. She was me and I know this for a fact, I was not lost or in need of rescue (thankfully) and the other diver was already out of the water before Edd's team arrived.

 

[chaad]

The other two divers were NOT rescued.

Thanks for clarifying. As you know, the news got this one very wrong at first.

 

[BonBon]

I'm sorry for your loss and glad everyone else is ok.

Thank you