Drowning at Windy Point 10-13-2007

[ryanpublic]

I agree Cmay,

Seems like there is nothing the instructor could have done to save this persons life. This instructor is probably beating himself up pretty good on his own without us second guessing his decisions. Maybe we could add the instructor and the other divers there that day (especially the instructor and the people involved in the recovery) to our prayer lists.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

I just received report of the autopsy for the diver who died at Windy Point in Austin on 10/13/2007. He died of an instantaneous massive heart attack. There would have been a VERY slim chance of reviving him regardless if he'd been on land or not. We are still asked to withhold his name pending next of kin notification. There was nothing anyone could have done.

Dixintex

Just curious, if the autopsy wasn't due until Tuesday--how did they get a rush on it and you get the info within hours of the death?

Also how did you as a non family member--just another student in the class get the report?

 

[islandiver]

When we heard about the missing diver we got divers in the water in 3 mins and the man was found and brought to the surface 8mins after the first diver hit the water. I'm not trying to judge in anyway what so ever, however, if we had been told about him missing earlier, there is a possibility we could have found him earlier. Would that have saved his life?...i don't know. All I know is it was a very sad occurance and one in which I will never forget. Being part of this entire thing has only made me and I'm sure many other divers better buddies.

I agree with ryanpublic that we should put that instructor and the other two divers as well as the divers involved in the recovery and initial cpr in our prayers. Because after speaking to some of them I know it would be greatly appreaciated.

 

[Joe-Diver]

I It was just unfortunate that this guy had a massive heart attack under water...very unfortunate, but I would say this is not a diving incident...it was a medical incident that unfortunately happened under water.

Reading through all these posts...with all the questions about procedure and who did what and when....doesn't matter in this particular case as the victim had a massive heart attack and died instantly. Could have been in 100' vis on a platform with multiple instructors/Divemasters present and wouldn't have change the outcome one bit.

 

[FBDiver]

I was at Windy Point this weekend. I am very new to the dive scene, infact I got my OW this weekend and had my first 7 official dives this weekend. I am a firefighter and was camping at the lake, and was one of the first people who conducted CPR on the man that drowned. Every effort was taken to try to save his life. It was a sad event. My condolences to his family and friends.

 

[ianr33]

Couple more questions if I may:

How long had the diver been missing before a search was initiated? (By divers other than those on the AOW course)
What was the time span between his disappearance and him being found?

My buddy and I got out from our dive maybe 30 minutes before this unfortunate diver was recovered. The first we knew anything was amiss was when he was brought to the surface.

I dont mean to be intrusive here,just trying to get it straight in my mind.

 

[ianr33]

I was at Windy Point this weekend. I am very new to the dive scene, infact I got my OW this weekend and had my first 7 official dives this weekend. I am a firefighter and was camping at the lake, and was one of the first people who conducted CPR on the man that drowned. Every effort was taken to try to save his life. It was a sad event. My condolences to his family and friends.

The response was VERY impressive. He could not have asked for better.
Thank you for your efforts.

My dive buddy is currently doing an EMT course. This sad event has prompted me to look into that as well.

 

[islandiver]

To my knowlege 45 min before a real search was started

 

[LVX]

To my knowlege 45 min before a real search was started

If that is true, that is a real problem...

 

[SharkBaite]

After reading the posts on this tragic event, all I have to say is this. The diver had a MASSIVE heart attack, in that case it doesn't matter if your on the surface or under water, your basicly going to be a vegatable if you live through it. You wouldn't have been able to survive this event, unless you were standing by with a AED and someone doing CPR withing the first minutes or so anyhow, With the diver still holding onto his light, this shows it was so quick, that his body didn't even have time to flinch.
Why does it matter how quickly someone responded.

The fact that this was a already certified diver, makes no concern about wether or not he was able to dive. Diver will dive despite what others say, they will pass the limits set forth in training just to dive. Basic OW divers are only supposed to dive to around 60' anyhow, he made it to 80 something, although he was with a instructor as a group, He was removed from proceding any further in training, but was not told he could not dive, he joined the group anyhow. this is not the fault of the instructor, or anyone involved. He was a diver and wanted to dive.

The instructor ascended performed his lost buddy check sent two other divers down to look while he waited on the surface. He probably did notify people on the surface that he had a lost diver/buddy but until that time passed from the other divers coming back, you have to wait. Most rescues in this type of event don't happen right away, it takes some time for everyone to get their act together, enter the water and perform the search.

Let this tragic event pass, and give the family and those involved some peace before bombarding them with what if's, could have's and should have.

My condolensces to the family and to those involved. its not easy seeing someone pass much less trying to perform cpr to bring them back and not succeed.
Its not easy being the person on the giving end and watching somone suffer to only pass a few minutes or hours later. I have been there and I know most people have never seen or been there, diving or not this was a tragic event, and NOTHING anyone could have done to prevent it.