Diver Denny
Registered
There was a diving fatality in the St. Clair river last October 23rd. The following is the article relating to the accident published in the Sarnia Observer.
"Michigan Man Drowns Beneath Bridge
A man police describe as a "master diver" drowned Saturday in strong St. Clair River currents under the Blue Water Bridge,
Thomas Drayton, 48, of Romulus Michigan had been diving in an area in Point Edward between the Charity Casino and the bridge when he went under and didn't come up police say. Emergency workers were called at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and he was pulled from the waterand rushed to Bluewater Health. Drayton could not be resuscitated.
"He had 52 plus dives so he was considered a master diver in Michigan," said Luke George, media relations officer for Lambton OPP. "He figured he'd go and do some dives. He assessed the water and said there was too much current and he was coming out."
Drayton never made it and was found by the Point Edward Volunteer Fire Department's Underwater Rescue Unit submerged seven feet from shore. George said there was no reason to suspect foul play, bit an investigation is ongoing. The OPP have also sent the diver's oxygen tanks to a lab to be assessed.
"There are a lot of unanswered questions that the investigators are looking into," said George. "Hopefully in combination with what they find out ... regarding the tanks and autopsy we'll have more answers."
George isn't sure if the temperature of the water was a factor but acknowledged it would have been cold.
"For this time of year it's probably reasonable to expect that it would be a little chilly with the cold weather we've had and the fact that the St. Clair River is also cold anyhow."
The OPP crime unit is continuing to investigate but the results of the autopsy will likely not be know for another month."
As you can see there are some technical inaccuracies and many missing key details. Was he diving solo or with a buddy? Did he have air left in his tank? I did a drift through this area on Sunday (unaware what had happened the previous day) and I can add the following details.
- the water was 54F at depth
- visibility was between 15' to 25' (very good for the river)
- the current was exceptionally strong that day, the main current felt to be exceeding 6kts.
- there is a back eddy along the shore that is around 1 to 3kts. 7' from the shore is well within the back eddy.
- freighters mess with the curernts strength and direction in this area, they also create swells. On our dive we had 4' waves.
I give my deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Thomas Drayton.
"Michigan Man Drowns Beneath Bridge
A man police describe as a "master diver" drowned Saturday in strong St. Clair River currents under the Blue Water Bridge,
Thomas Drayton, 48, of Romulus Michigan had been diving in an area in Point Edward between the Charity Casino and the bridge when he went under and didn't come up police say. Emergency workers were called at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and he was pulled from the waterand rushed to Bluewater Health. Drayton could not be resuscitated.
"He had 52 plus dives so he was considered a master diver in Michigan," said Luke George, media relations officer for Lambton OPP. "He figured he'd go and do some dives. He assessed the water and said there was too much current and he was coming out."
Drayton never made it and was found by the Point Edward Volunteer Fire Department's Underwater Rescue Unit submerged seven feet from shore. George said there was no reason to suspect foul play, bit an investigation is ongoing. The OPP have also sent the diver's oxygen tanks to a lab to be assessed.
"There are a lot of unanswered questions that the investigators are looking into," said George. "Hopefully in combination with what they find out ... regarding the tanks and autopsy we'll have more answers."
George isn't sure if the temperature of the water was a factor but acknowledged it would have been cold.
"For this time of year it's probably reasonable to expect that it would be a little chilly with the cold weather we've had and the fact that the St. Clair River is also cold anyhow."
The OPP crime unit is continuing to investigate but the results of the autopsy will likely not be know for another month."
As you can see there are some technical inaccuracies and many missing key details. Was he diving solo or with a buddy? Did he have air left in his tank? I did a drift through this area on Sunday (unaware what had happened the previous day) and I can add the following details.
- the water was 54F at depth
- visibility was between 15' to 25' (very good for the river)
- the current was exceptionally strong that day, the main current felt to be exceeding 6kts.
- there is a back eddy along the shore that is around 1 to 3kts. 7' from the shore is well within the back eddy.
- freighters mess with the curernts strength and direction in this area, they also create swells. On our dive we had 4' waves.
I give my deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Thomas Drayton.
