Brian_J
Registered
This is the incredible true story of Erik Petkovic's (explorer, wreck and technical diver) brush with death and Decompression Illness. It's riveting and quite frankly, gave me chills. There are three parts; this is a link to Part II.
Erik asked to publish the story on our site (www.teamexplorationdivers.com) so that others would potentially be able to learn from his experiences. Part III will be published shortly.
Deep Survival: One Deep Wreck Diver’s Story of Death and Survival [Part Two] - Team Exploration Divers
An excerpt from Part II:
Erik asked to publish the story on our site (www.teamexplorationdivers.com) so that others would potentially be able to learn from his experiences. Part III will be published shortly.
Deep Survival: One Deep Wreck Diver’s Story of Death and Survival [Part Two] - Team Exploration Divers
An excerpt from Part II:
Rescue #3: 2004 - Eastern Basin Lake Erie - wreck of the John J. Boland Jr - Depth 140 ffw
I broke the surface and was on my back. Those on board who were watching my bubbles from the depths below saw my face - it was blue. I had been submerged in 34 degree water (1.11 degrees Celsius) for almost an hour. My body turned over and my face was once again in the water.
They didn't know whether I was dead or alive.
I was later told they were worried my regulator would fall out of my mouth when I turned over face first in the water. I was bloated and blue. They all thought I was dead. A couple of divers jumped overboard and hauled my lifeless body onto the boat.
Needless to say, I don't remember anything that happened once I broke the surface. The only thing I vividly recall, as if it happened a moment ago, was after I broke the surface I remember seeing a white light. The light was bright and warm. I remember everything fading to black with the exception of this bright white light in a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel there was a blurry figure. I remember the figure getting closer, but I couldn't make out who it was.
I broke the surface and was on my back. Those on board who were watching my bubbles from the depths below saw my face - it was blue. I had been submerged in 34 degree water (1.11 degrees Celsius) for almost an hour. My body turned over and my face was once again in the water.
They didn't know whether I was dead or alive.
I was later told they were worried my regulator would fall out of my mouth when I turned over face first in the water. I was bloated and blue. They all thought I was dead. A couple of divers jumped overboard and hauled my lifeless body onto the boat.
Needless to say, I don't remember anything that happened once I broke the surface. The only thing I vividly recall, as if it happened a moment ago, was after I broke the surface I remember seeing a white light. The light was bright and warm. I remember everything fading to black with the exception of this bright white light in a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel there was a blurry figure. I remember the figure getting closer, but I couldn't make out who it was.
