A diver who was ‘clinically dead’ when he was dragged from the water at a quarry near Tamworth was saved – thanks to the heroic efforts of three men.
The 71-year-old, an experienced diver, got into difficulties in the water at Dosthill Quarry on Sunday (January 28), when his rebreather failed to function properly.
While rescue diver Gordon Walton called 999, director of operations Ian Forster and 24-year-old staff instructor Dan Moore carried out CPR, so that by the time emergency services arrived just minutes later, the man was conscious and breathing.
Ian said: “He was unconscious, unresponsive and not breathing, and his deep, dark blue colour confirmed cardiac arrest, probably triggered by respiratory arrest.
“There were traces of blood on his face from a nose bleed underwater. At that time he was clinically dead.”
Ian has owned Dosthill Quarry since 1988 and has over 50 years diving experience himself. Together with 24-year-old Dan Moore, a Dosthill man who works at the quarry as a senior instructor, he put his extensive training to the test – with remarkable results.
Dan pulled the diver from the water while Gordon phoned 999 and fetched a resuscitation mask and emergency oxygen to the scene. Gordon continued to relate events to the ambulance controller until the first ambulance arrived.
Ian added: “I estimated the rescue to have taken two minutes, which meant there might only be two minutes or less to bring the diver back before the four minute deadline after which brain damage can occur. I immediately administered between 20 to 25 deep oxygen enriched rescue breaths in around 90 seconds to try and get his breathing started and restart his heart.
"The diver’s colour improved within 10 breaths, and the absence of any water from his mouth reassured me that he had not drowned. He started to breathe for himself so I stopped ventilations, but kept him on free flow oxygen.
"Once I could see that he was reasonably stable with full colour, I assessed his breathing to determine if he had inhaled any water into his lungs. This basic field assessment reassured me that he had inhaled very little or no water, which further confirmed that he had not drowned. He regained consciousness and responded to my repeated verbal urging.
“While I was resuscitating the diver, Dan Moore removed his diving unit, and then continued to care for him, and dissuade him from moving until the ambulance arrived.”
Four police cars, two land ambulances and the air ambulance were sent to the scene and Church Road in Dosthill was closed off while the incident was dealt with.
Thanks to the prompt actions of the three, the air ambulance sent to the scene was not required, instead he was taken by land ambulance to hospital, where he spent two days recovering.
He is now recuperating at home, although both he and his family are said to have been left very shaken by the incident.
The man was one of three divers from Burntwood Sub Aqua Club who had been in the water for almost an hour when he got into difficulties with his rebreather, a device which enable divers to stay under water for longer.
The group had stopped near the exit steps to carry out some practice drills when the man lost consciousness and landed on the platform, with the breathing mouthpiece out of his mouth. One of his buddies carried out an emergency lift to the surface where he shouted for help before towing the unconscious diver to the exit steps.
Dosthill Quarry is the oldest National Inland Dive Site in the UK with diving being carried out there since 1958. It has a 100 per cent safety record with no fatalities in 60 years.
Ian added: “Dan is a staff instructor at a very high level and Gordon is a rescue diver. All three of us are very well-trained emergency first responders.
“The response was incredibly quick, it was the first time the lads had seen an incident like this and they were amazing, they did their jobs and allowed me to do mine and we were able to get him stable before the ambulance arrived.”
