Diver perished on HMCS Mackenzie

[Canadian Craigster]

I'm a bit unclear on this. Is it saying that both divers died or both were taken to Sidney Spit where one was declared dead by helicopter paramedics and the other was taken in the helicopter for treatment?

The situation sounds awful either way...

I saw the news article on TV, both divers taken to Sidney Spit...one pronounced dead, the other alive and air lifted to Vancouver. No additional print or broadcast details around as of today.

"...sounds awful either way...." Couldn't agree more. Be safe.

Craig

 

[Hyper-limits]

More info from the TC:

Equipment failure suspected in fatal diving accident Times Colonist staff One diver is dead and another was flown to a Vancouver hospital after they had problems at a popular dive site east of Sidney on the weekend. “We have spoken to the surviving diver and he indicated he had equipment failure,” Sidney RCMP Const. Georgina Josefsson said Monday. “He still wasn’t really sure what happened with his partner.” Josefsson said the deceased’s equipment appeared to be functioning properly. Drugs or alcohol were not involved.
Names are not being released.
Rescue teams were called at 11:30 a.m. Sunday to a dive boat seven kilometres east of Sidney after two divers exploring the wreck of HMCS McKenzie reported having trouble. One diver was unconscious and the second was out of breath. The former destroyer escort is about 30 metres below the ocean’s surface. The Victoria Rescue Co-ordination Centre arranged a helicopter to pick up one diver at Sidney Spit. The second man, 49, was declared dead by emergency staff on the helicopter.

 

[69_Jeremy_69]

Sad story.

 

[wedivebc]

Just spoke with a friend of the victim. He said victim's buddy ran out of air. When he offered an alternate the buddy pulled the hose off the fist stage so both divers did CESA from 90ft. Victim appeared to have embolized.

 

[SeanQ]

Just spoke with a friend of the victim. He said victim's buddy ran out of air. When he offered an alternate the buddy pulled the hose off the fist stage so both divers did CESA from 90ft. Victim appeared to have embolized.

Thanks for the update Dave. What a tragic story.

I wonder how much force it takes to pull a hose directly out of the first stage? I'm guessing the hose might break first but I'm not interested in trying.

 

[Sasquatch]

Deeply saddened by this report. I hope the family senses how sad the entire diving community gets and knows that our feelings and support are with them.

 

[Jessicaalexandra]

This accident has hit my family hard on so many levels. It was a day where the brother in laws got together to have a day diving. It's been very rough for the last 8 years since it had all happened. It's a tragedy. The two that are still alive have not gotten back in the water since. But after years of court and lawyers everyone is at ease and that this is finally behind us. After this accident I neve wanted to be a diver and am now deciding to get over my fears of it. This accident has taught me that no matter what diving is a huge risk you take. As hurt as I was by all of this as this was my dad and uncles out there that day, I have never been so blessed knowing my dad is still here. When in fact it could have been him that passed. My dads my hero and had it been him I would of been proud regardless as diving was his life. Thank you everyone for your thoughts it hasn't been easy for us to get over all of this. I hope that one day he will get back in the water so he can teach and show me the cool things he loves.

 

[RJP]

This accident has hit my family hard on so many levels. It was a day where the brother in laws got together to have a day diving. It's been very rough for the last 8 years since it had all happened. It's a tragedy. The two that are still alive have not gotten back in the water since. But after years of court and lawyers everyone is at ease and that this is finally behind us. After this accident I neve wanted to be a diver and am now deciding to get over my fears of it. This accident has taught me that no matter what diving is a huge risk you take. As hurt as I was by all of this as this was my dad and uncles out there that day, I have never been so blessed knowing my dad is still here. When in fact it could have been him that passed. My dads my hero and had it been him I would of been proud regardless as diving was his life. Thank you everyone for your thoughts it hasn't been easy for us to get over all of this. I hope that one day he will get back in the water so he can teach and show me the cool things he loves.

Jessica, our hearts go out to you and your dad. Thanks for coming by and posting.

Do note that this particular forum on ScubaBoard is where we discuss "Incidents and Accidents" - not to be macabre, but this is how divers learn by what happens to others. Since you've brought this thread back to the top, please don't be put off if people start asking questions or discussing/postulating what might have happened. Also note that the mention of "court and lawyers" will attract some attention and debate here.

 

[Ayisha]

My condolences Jessica. I'm very sorry for the loss of your Uncle and the trauma to your Dad and other Uncle. There are risks of course in diving like other intensive activities, but we try to manage those risks the best we can and learn from accidents and incidents in order to try to avoid them happening again.

Since this is fresh in my mind now after all these years, I do have a question. It seems from wedivebc's post that the victim's hose was pulled out from the first stage, but the article quoted below states that "the deceased's equipment appeared to be functioning properly". It also said the surviving diver "had equipment failure". So was it the opposite? Was it the victim who ran out of air and the surviving buddy's hose was pulled out of the first stage, leaving them no air source?

More info from the TC:

Equipment failure suspected in fatal diving accident Times Colonist staff One diver is dead and another was flown to a Vancouver hospital after they had problems at a popular dive site east of Sidney on the weekend. “We have spoken to the surviving diver and he indicated he had equipment failure,” Sidney RCMP Const. Georgina Josefsson said Monday. “He still wasn’t really sure what happened with his partner.” Josefsson said the deceased’s equipment appeared to be functioning properly...

Just spoke with a friend of the victim. He said victim's buddy ran out of air. When he offered an alternate the buddy pulled the hose off the fist stage so both divers did CESA from 90ft. Victim appeared to have embolized.

 

[themagni]

My condolences as well. I think your dad and I did our AOW together.