Death of a very famous Free Diver.

[freediver]

hey GP, I didn't intend to "bash" your opinion, merely stating that the risk associated with this sport mirrors the ability one has while participating in this sport.
I think Cal71 put it real well saying "I'm always awed because I'm pretty risk adverse, but my definition of acceptable risks definately change as my experience and ability grow...".
Sorry GP, no hard feelings. Bottom line is that this is such a tragedy to occur to someone with so much ability, promise and desire.

 

[jepuskar]

A tragedy this is not! A real tragedy is anyone of the victims of that sniper who were just going about their daily lives or a neglected child.

This lady who died gets dragged down 500+ feet at her own free will and doesn't surface alive receives no pity from me. Just like a diver who runs out of air at 130 feet with no buddy around....no pity from me. This sport has extreme risks involved, thats what makes the record so special. Its not like she was trying to stack 200 quarters on her elbow....this lady went underwater 500+ feet....come on .....dont kid yourself.

She may of been talented, but I heard she had to take a breath off a reg by a support diver on her way up....I wonder if she did that and held her breath the rest of the way up.....doh

Bottomline is...this is no tragedy.

 

[JamesK]

jepuskar,

Your reply reminded me of a joke I once heard and love:

Once Bill Clinton visited a elementary school to talk to a group of 3rd graders. He said to them, "Today we are going to discuss the difference between a tragedy, a great loss and an accident". Then he said, "Can anyone give me an example of a tragedy?" A little boy raises his hand and says, "If a kid runs out in the street after a ball and gets hit by a car." Clinton says, "No, that would be an accident. Can anyone else try?" A little girl raises her hand and says, "If a busload of kids drove off a cliff." Clinton says, "No, that would be a great loss. Come on, anyone else?" A boy raises his hand and says and says, "If you and Mrs. Clinton was on a plane and it blew up." Then Clinton says, "Well, Yes, but can you tell me why it would be considered a tragedy?" And the little boy says, "Well, it wouldn't have been an accident, and it sure as heck wouldn't have been a great loss."

Anyway, tragedies come in many shapes and sizes. It is all in the eye of the beholder. To some, the sniper deaths of 10 Americans is reason to celebrate, not cry. To yet others, the death of this woman is a great tragedy. Just as if you were to die in a car accident (heaven forbid and no I am not wishing that on anyone) people that you know would consider losing you a tragedy. Now, you knew the risks of driving, just like she knew the risks of freediving, but it would be a tragedy to some none the less. Your little rumor at the end, along with your speculation, does not make it any better.

 

[jepuskar]

She was on her way up and needed assistance from a support diver....that is documented fact.

It was merely my thoughts that it was very possible she could of held her breath on the way up. I think this because that is what she is use too..holding her breath underwater and especially under stress, she might not have had the proper mind thinking at that time.


Regardless, I still dont think this is a tragedy, but your right..i guess some people will think this is a tragedy...depending on your definition of tragedy.

 

[GP]

freediver once bubbled...
Sorry GP, no hard feelings.

Fair enough freediver. As unpopular as it may be...I guess I tend to agree with jepuskar although I wouldn't put it that blunt or harsh. I just think that freediving to such extreme depths is an unnecessary hazardous risk of ones life regardless of their skill level. Obviously there's less risk involved for someone with greater skills in freediving but none the less it's still a big risk. I just don't think attempting to set records like this are worth putting your life on the line for but obviously others do and I respect that but when someone dies...I mean really...what's the point of trying to free dive so deep? The only thing I can think of is for personal gratification and/or personal ego. Is that worth risking your life? Apparently so to some people.

 

[JDostal]

I just heard about this today....my sympathies go out to to her friends and family.

 

[AquaTec]

In regards to her taking a breath off a support diver.

If she had profetional support divers with proper training, which i am sure she did considering who she was and what she was attempting.

If a freediver takes a breath of a reg, it is the support divers job and responsability to grab on to the freediver and not let them make a direct ascent to the surface.

the support diver ascend to his first deco stop and passes off the freediver to the next support diver at that depth, this continues until the freediver reaches the surface.

I do not know this girl, but i do know that many freedivers do not know the rules of scuba diving such as not to hold your breath, that is why all support diver training strongly emphasises the above technique

 

[freediver]

to the sympathetic, the loss of human life, is tragic. to the unsympathetic, it is merely vexatious. Unknown Author
Jepuskar, straying from the subject at hand but yes, the sniper victims were a tragic loss and by the same token, the high school kid who is killed in a vehicle accident, while driving over the speed limit, is also a tragic loss, even though they were FULLY AWARE of the risks and consequences.
By the way, this IS the definition of tragedy: A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life

 

[Peat Bogg]

I feel the loss of anyone who dies accidentally. My sister and her family live in the war zone of DC and that latest victom could have been my sister or your wife or mother.....My prayers go out to those victoms of the sniper. But he will get caught sooner or later and I pitty the fool because he won't live long enough to be put on trial....as with the loss of our Freediving sister. I feel sad. She was stretching her limits. But she was doing what she loved. I am a scuba diver and a freediver. I am not nearly as good as the pros out there but I can freedive to 60 feet and I think that is a great accomplishment for myself. I feel bad she is gone. We ( cavers) felt the same way when we lost Sheck Exceley to a cave in Mexico. and we also felt the loss in Nascar when Dale Earnheart died. I think what makes it tragic is we lost a hero someone we admired. My condolences go out to her and her family. Please dive safe this weekend folks.

Peace love and fuzzy bunnies

 

[holdingmybreath]

jepuskar,
where do you get your information? I've been following and reading about this very closely and there are so many rumors getting printed even in the news that it's incredible! Check out the one site that will eventually let you know exactly what happened. They were covering the event for days prior and since. The following link is a short excerpt from a 3 page article on the event. She was definitely BO'd and how could she have taken a breath from a regulator then? This gal was a professional. If she was conscious and took a breath, don't think for one minute that she would not have breathed out on the way up. Under the water, there is no one more at ease than an experienced (professional) freediver in a "not so good" situation. Well, check this out - and stop adding to the speculation and rumors. http://www.deeperblue.net/article.php/264/2/1