Gulf Accident

[pecuda]

Folks,

I don't know the details, but the experienced divers need to refresh the newbies on safety! SOmeone popped the top out in the GOM this past weekend. There is no need for this kind of accident. I guess I am just a grumpy old diver!

It is listed under coastguardnews at their website. Since I just joined this forum, I can't post the link.

Stay safe divers!!!!

 

[herbdb]

Here's the link. Second story, rescue off Galvaston. Not much information, rapid ascent.

Coast Guard Headquarters Home Page

 

[scubashawn123]

Coast Guard Air Station Houston medevacs diver off Galveston coast

HOUSTON - Coast Guard Air Station Houston medevaced a diver approximately 120 miles off the Galveston coast, Sunday.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received a call at approximately 11 a.m. via VHF marine radio from a person aboard the 36-foot pleasure craft Southern Cross requesting immediate assistance. The reporting source stated that the vessel and four people aboard were on a diving excursion when one of the divers had to make a rapid ascent. As a result, the diver, a 45-year old female required immediate medical assistance.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew from Air Station Houston and an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew from Air Station Corpus Christi. The Dolphin crew from Air Station Houston arrived on scene first and hoisted the woman into the cabin of the helicopter and transported her to Mainland Hospital in Texas City.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Holbrook, operations specialist and watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston attributes the working VHF marine radio onboard the Southern Cross to saving the woman's life.

"Without having a working VHF marine radio onboard, we would not have been able to help them because they were so far offshore. That radio literally saved her life," said Hollbrook.

The condition of the woman is unknown.


Here is the video from coast guard of the rescue http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=972048




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Does anyone in the swamp have more details of who this dive boat operation was?

Who the female diver is? What is her condition today? I hope doing wonderfully.

 

[chucksaul]

Sounds like they were at the Flower Gardens by my charts... I would guess the USCG would have made mention if it wasa a commercial dive vessel.

Now for my plug for VHF Radios... If you are in a boat on Travis or any of the Gulf waters/bays please carry a VHF Radio. If you need to borrow one, you can use mine. A good one with Lat/Long costs about $150 and can save your life.

On our sailboat we have a fixed one and I believe Robert has one on LTS and we had them on our Lake Ouachita trip. I also have one which I carry on me and it is waterproof.

End of Sermon...

 

[jalistair]

Thank goodness for the radio!

 

[divezonescuba]

There are a few inaccuracies in the report. The individual was not 45 years old, but much younger. Embolisms occurred during a descent necessitating a rapid ascent. By the time the medevac occurred they were 85 miles out. She survived the accident, but is undergoing daily recompression treatments for the next few days.

 

[chrispete]

Embolisms occurred during a descent necessitating a rapid ascent.

An air embolism on descent? Are you sure about that?

 

[divezonescuba]

That is the information that I heard. It does not make particular sense unless there were bouyancy issues. I don't think that they were at the Flower Gardens, as it is probable that they were on a spearfishing trip. The vessel in question has GOM pelagic and reef fish permits and is frequently used for spearfishing charters.

 

[PeppermintPaddi]

Maybe they meant you have to go down before you can go up, whether slowly or quickly.

 

[scubafanatic]

An air embolism on descent? Are you sure about that?

I'm surprised the news report doesn't mention her running out of 'oxygen'......the media is so 'scuba clueless' !