Divers drown in mining pond during search-and-rescue operation

[Basking Ridge Diver]

I'm sorry, but who goes into that?

Neighbors trying to help neighbors...

 

[dberry]

Divers sucked by whirlpool, says Fire and Rescue Dept D-G

There's a helpful graphic towards the end of this article that depicts the "whirlpool" at the base of the low waterfall that trapped the divers. It's not quite what I was imagined based on the other reports.

Folks seem to have seen a video of the event (or the site)... is there a link for that video?

 

[Rollin Bonz]

There's a helpful graphic towards the end of this article that depicts the "whirlpool" at the base of the low waterfall that trapped the divers. It's not quite what I was imagined based on the other reports.

Folks seem to have seen a video of the event (or the site)... is there a link for that video?

All I've seen is FB link Per @DrBarbarian in post #27

Have to log into facebook to view

Kisah Masyarakat

 

[dberry]

Thank you, I found the FB page with the video. That was horrendous to watch, but it was consistent with the "whirlpool" being due to the turbulence at the base of the waterfall. In the interest of late-comers to the thread I'm posting the graphic showing the situation.

 

[Rollin Bonz]

Thank you, I found the FB page with the video. That was horrendous to watch, but it was consistent with the "whirlpool" being due to the turbulence at the base of the waterfall. In the interest of late-comers to the thread I'm posting the graphic showing the situation.

Ahhh, as I suspected, the infamous Low Head Dam effect.

Evidently they didn't realize what they were getting into (due to darkness perhaps, but even still...). Those things are death traps.

 

[tech_diver]

I can't imagine the horror of being tied to a group of other divers. I have read too many nightmare stories about the use of buddy lines gone wrong.

The absolute only time I ever lash myself to another person is on an ice dive. It's my single rope and my single tender.

 

[rongoodman]

Low head dams have killed a number of rescuers over the years, including several firefighters in Binghamton, NY, a few years back. Modern swift water rescue classes spend a lot of time teaching about the dangers of the recirculating water which can form at their base.

 

[The Wolf]

This is not the first drowning incident at that site I am told and in all honesty, if the mission was a body recovery mission, why risk the lives of 6 people and sending them with very poor lighting, knowledge and understanding of what they were being sent into.

This is a very different scenario from the Thai cave rescue situation I think and someone has to ask the site commander in this instance, why was there a rush to get into the pond instead of waiting for day light and better visibility and understanding of the dynamics of the pond.

Was the mission a rescue (with the idea being the individual was potentially still alive) or a body recovery mission?

This is something that needs clarification.

 

[DandyDon]

Was the mission a rescue (with the idea being the individual was potentially still alive) or a body recovery mission?

The news stories I've read seem to agree that "Six firemen were on a mission to rescue a teenager." Three kids went to fish, one fell in, the other two frantically sought help, someone here suggested that natives are generally not adept swimmers - but there was hope. No one knew if the boys in Thailand were alive or not when the cave rescue started, and mistakes were made there, too. The firemen were from two different stations.

There are many possibilities that might warrant improvement, but "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also classifies Malaysia as an emerging and developing country," and "Malaysia's recent rapid development has attracted millions of migrant workers from across Asia. The majority of these migrants are undocumented."

The US also has many dangerous places involving water, and while we generally have good warnings, rangers in parks, and trained rescue units, people still die after falling above waterfalls, caught picnicking in flash floods, etc. Life is fragile. I'm still nagging my kids about a photo of my granddaughter posing for a photo in China, standing on a wet deck, back to a low railing, over a raging river.

 

[DrBarbarian]

I seriously don't think they were out trying to rescue the teenager..... wouldn't it make more sense to use a boat for rescue operation. I agree they should have waited till it's safe to enter the water for recovery operation.....

sad day for my nation.....