Mexican fatality - Australia

[DandyDon]

Mexican national dies on NSW dive trip

A Mexican national who died in waters off the mid-north NSW coast was an experienced diver, authorities believe.
The 35-year-old man died during a diving trip on Saturday, about two kilometres west of South West Rocks.
"It's believed he was a certified diver," a NSW Police spokeswoman told AAP.
His death is not being treated as suspicious but a report will be prepared for the coroner.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Sad that this has happened. It will probably have been at a place called Fish Rock where there is a 120 metre long cave through the island. Can get deep, to about 35 metres or more (not likely the shops would take anyone there).

 

[DandyDon]

Sad that this has happened. It will probably have been at a place called Fish Rock where there is a 120 metre long cave through the island. Can get deep, to about 35 metres or more (not likely the shops would take anyone there).

Another story does mention Fish Rock, but not a cave. Diver dies | Port Macquarie News

A DEEP water diving tragedy has rocked the small town of South West Rocks over the weekend.
A 35-year-old, unidentified man died while diving with a group off Fish Rock.

The man was found unconscious in about 10 metres of water at about 1.30pm on Saturday.
He was taken back to the boat where CPR was attempted on the way to shore but he died a short time later.
At report is being prepared for the coroner.

 

[jecor]

I call myself lucky to have met the diver who died, he was an incredibly kind soul, cheerful and committed to his family. A lifelong friend who unfortunately left us too soon.

At this point there are more questions than answers, we were not aware of any health problem and I know his family is right now trying to find the easiest way to get to Australia. I believe they will need support from authorities for the process so if anyone on the diving community in the region has any advice please send me a PM I will try to make sure his brother gets any helpful information.

Thanks

 

[DandyDon]

I call myself lucky to have met the diver who died, he was an incredibly kind soul, cheerful and committed to his family. A lifelong friend who unfortunately left us too soon.

At this point there are more questions than answers, we were not aware of any health problem and I know his family is right now trying to find the easiest way to get to Australia. I believe they will need support from authorities for the process so if anyone on the diving community in the region has any advice please send me a PM I will try to make sure his brother gets any helpful information.

Thanks

I don't know about Mexican embassies and consulates, but that would be the government department to assist with any needs, I think. In the US, many of us insure our diving with Divers Alert Network (DAN), and I tell my family that if anything happens to me - please contact those two entities to handle my emergency evacuation or reparation remains if I don't survive. DAN is not at all the same for Mexican citizens I leaned a couple of years ago when a friend in Cozumel got hurt, and your friend may not be covered by DAN - but they would still be very willing to give expert advice. It's a membership organization, imperfect in ways, but still helpful and willing.

First, I think I would contact DAN World to see if he did have Traveler EMS coverage there?
DAN World (Divers Alert Network) Diving Mexico

Additionally, DAN headquarters in the US is available for counseling: Ph 919-684-9111

I'll send this by PM to ensure you see it, but post it on the thread as well in hopes that others have better ideas - as this is all I know.

 

[clownfishsydney]

To clarify, the cave is only about 24 metres deep at the deep end, 12 or so at the shallow end. The reef around the island gets to 35+ metres.

 

[jecor]

Thanks for the information DandyDon

 

[Ollieseth]

Hey all,
I was one of the four divers on the dive. An unfortunately one of the two who witnessed the incident.
It was at Fish Island in South West Rocks and it was at the beginning of the cave dive in the area called the chimney at around midday. There was nothing that could have been done as it was dark (we all had torches) and he had drowned before myself of the dive master could get to him. When we got him out of the cave he was already gone.
Once on the boat he had the best fighting chance as the other 3 people were 2 registered GP’s and an emergency room nurse who worked on him the entire half hour back to the boat ramp. All 3 of them were in my book heroes; they never stopped or faulted the entire trip performing CPR until he was in the ambulance. Unfortunately he was gone before he had gotten out of the water, my condolence to his family as parents should never have to bury their young.
It was just a really unfortunate accident.

 

[Ayisha]

Sorry Ollie for what you have endured. If you think of or hear anything else, please let us know.

 

[DandyDon]

Olli, do you know why he drowned...?

Just found this...
NSW Water Police examine dive equipment used by Mexican national who died near South West Rocks

The NSW Water Police have been examining equipment used by a Mexican tourist who died while scuba diving off the mid north coast last weekend.
35 year old Miguel Angel Osuna Horoscco from the coastal town of Mazatlan was seen floating unconscious with his mask and regulator off near South West Rocks east of Kempsey on Saturday.
The Mexican Consul to Australia Geraldo Serrano said his early advice is an oxygen tube broke and Miguel Horoscco died from a heart attack.
"He was an I-T professional and he was working for General Electric here in Australia for about six months," he said.
"He was married, he had two kids in Mexico, I had to notify the wife of it happening.
"He was a really young, professional, successful guy and had this incident and the wife is in shock.
"It's really hard when these things happen being so far away from Mexico this complicates things far more."
Mr Serrano said police alerted him to the death.
"To basically let me know that Miguel Angel Osuna Horoscco he had a diving accident," he said.
"From what I've heard from the Australian authorities so far is that he was diving inside some caves.
"While he was down there one of the oxygen tubes broke. He didn't have enough time or oxygen to come back to the surface.
"I have to underline this is not official, we're still waiting for the results of the autopsy."
Mr Serrano said Mr Osuna Horoscco's wife and her father arrived in Australia from Mexico yesterday.
"The Australian Embassy in Mexico issued emergency visas for the family to Sydney," he said.
"They will to then travel to Newcastle where Miguel Angel Osuna Horoscco is resting at the moment.
"They will identify the body, go through all the paper work that has to be done, death certificates and so on.
"Then the idea is to take his body back to Mexico."