Morrison's Quarry fatality - Quebec

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DandyDon

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Ottawa man dies while scuba diving in western Quebec quarry | CBC News
An Ottawa man died Sunday afternoon while scuba diving in Morrison's Quarry in Chelsea, Que.

According to paramedics, two 24-year-old men went for a dive in the popular swimming and scuba diving destination about 30 kilometres north of Ottawa, on the border of Chelsea and La Pêche, Que.

One of the divers ran into trouble underwater. The other, who tried to help, resurfaced at about 5:15 p.m. and called 911, police said.

The body of the missing diver was recovered by two other divers and efforts were made to revive him, but he was pronounced dead in hospital.

Police said they won't be naming him at the request of his family.

Both police and the coroner's office are investigating.

This isn't the first fatal incident at the quarry.

A scuba diver died in the quarry in March 2014, and in 2015 a swimmer died after jumping off one of the quarry's cliffs into the water.
 
Inquest results: Le décès d'un plongeur aurait pu être évité à la carrière Morrison
Google's translation...
Death of a diver could have been avoided at the Morrison quarry

The drowning in July 2019 at the former Morrison quarry in Chelsea of a scuba diver proved to be "an accidental, preventable death", according to a coroner's report signed on April 7 and which includes four recommendations .
The investigation into the death of Jean-Michel Nadon, of Ottawa, showed some minor errors in the diving protocol, including the absence of a nylon tie on the mouthpiece of the pair's Octopus (assures waterproofing) during his fourth dive in the water, said the report of Coroner Paul G. Dionne.

"This could be the cause of a significant infiltration of water to the point of making it impossible to take a breath of air, not to mention a more than probable choking caused by the ingestion of this water while Mr. Nadon wanted to breathe on the pair's Octopus, ”explained the coroner in his report.

First exit

Mr. Nadon, a certified diver, was 24 years old at the time of his death. It was his first outing in the Morisson career.

The fatal accident is also explained by an incomplete opening of the faucet which seemed to be open only a quarter of a turn when it should have been opened completely, added Dr. Dionne.

"The 2 elements of the accident could have been avoided by a pre-dive check (which was not done according to the testimonies collected)", he continued.

Recommendations

The coroner makes three recommendations to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for better protection of human life, namely to institute a preventive measure so that a diver has in his possession a pre-dive checklist, that a diver has in his possession an alternative air source and that he follows an update of his knowledge and skills if he is inactive for a period of more than 18 months.

"In addition, I ask the Quebec Federation of Underwater Activities to work to pass these safety recommendations and inform its members," added the coroner.
 
Wow, that was tragic story of inexperience costing a life quickly. For such a simple reason if I interpret it correctly. Seems the diver descended with their air barely on and when going to share air with their buddys octopus, the mouthpiece came off because they did not secure it with a zip tie.

At a minimum not securing a mouthpiece with zip tie seems very strange, but the buddy could have shared their primary for the short time to get back to the surface but no mention of that. Have to imagine there is a young man somewhere out there with terrible memories to live with.
 

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