Colorado man dies diving in Key West

[deepstops]

Weld Co. man dies after scuba diving off Fla. Keys - The Denver Post

Weld Co. man dies after scuba diving off Fla. Keys
The Associated Press
Posted: 09/24/2010 09:34:25 AM MDTUpdated: 09/24/2010 10:16:35 AM MDT


KEY WEST, Fla.—A 57-year-old Colorado man died after he surfaced in a panic while scuba diving off Key West.
Police say William Rhoton of Briggsdale, Colo., was diving with his wife in 25 feet of water Thursday afternoon. He surfaced after 40 minutes. His wife told investigators he appeared to be panicky and was coughing and gagging.

He was not breathing when crew members on the dive boat pulled him aboard. They performed CPR and summoned the Coast Guard, which took him ashore. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be performed.

Read more: Weld Co. man dies after scuba diving off Fla. Keys - The Denver Post

Weld Co. man dies after scuba diving off Fla. Keys - The Denver Post

 

[DeusVerto]

Ascent pressure embolism perhaps? I sometimes worry that basic dive instruction doesn't focus much on breath control and self-discipline. The quickest way to die is to to panic and bolt for the surface. The ability to keep your cool when you can't breathe is of such paramount importance, there has to be a way to train and test for this.

 

[TSandM]

This is one of those cases where I wonder about immersion pulmonary edema. Shallow depth, respiratory problems, panic . . . embolism may have ensued.

 

[Ana]

Is it possible that a heart attack started at depth, he then decided to go to the surface and it appeared panicky while coughing and all that?

 

[SC_Hoaty]

A few more details....

From Colo. Man Dies After Scuba Diving Off Fla. Keys - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

KEY WEST, Fla. -- A 57-year-old Colorado man died after he surfaced in a panic while scuba diving off Key West.

They were on a dive trip on board the vessel "Starfish Enterprise" out of Subtropic Dive Center, diving at Sand Key in about 25 feet of water.

Police said William Rhoton of Briggsdale, Colo., was diving with his wife in 25 feet of water at Sand Key, from the "Starfish Enterprise" Thursday afternoon.


Rhoton surfaced from a 40-minute dive and, according to crew members on the boat, gave a distress signal in the water. His wife said he appeared to be panicky and was coughing and gagging. He was pulled on board the boat and was not breathing, so crewmembers began performing CPR and called the Coast Guard for assistance.

Paramedics took him to to Lower Keys Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be performed.

 

[deeper thoughts]

The seas have been pretty "sporty" here lately. That never helps