Plura, Norway: Body recovery operation started

[Storker]

Does anyone know what side they went in?

Apparently from Steinugleflåget, i.e. the same side the previous operation went in from.

- Vi har fått opplysninger om at de to i går ble hentet opp til vannspeilet, samme sted som de var tenkt hentet opp i den tidligere planlagte aksjonen, sier fungerende politimester Kristin Elnæs i Helgeland politidistrikt.

(According to our information, the two divers have been brought to the surface, at the same place they were planned to be brought in the previous operation, says Chief of Police Kristin Elnæs)

Parallelt planlegges operasjonen med å få bragt de døde opp av grotta og ut ved Steinugleflåget. Norsk Grotteforbund skal bistå politiet med dette arbeidet.

(The operation to bring the bodies up from of the cave and out at Steinugleflåget is under planning. The Norwegian Speleological Society will assist the police in this work)

Hentet døde dykkere i hemmelig aksjon | Rana Blad

---------- Post added March 28th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ----------

Did they perhaps make a video documentary about it ?

Yes, wouldn't that be a great Saturday night TV show?

(Sorry for the snark, but frankly, I don't see the recovery of two one-and-half-month-dead bodies as something particularly suitable for broadcasting...)

 

[DandyDon]

Great news! Must have been a huge effort ! Well done to all involved. Did they perhaps make a video documentary about it ? I am also glad that their families can now get closure. Maybe they will write about the operation.

It would be interesting, details about the planning, equipment, operation, support, risks expected, what happened, etc. I certainly don't know anything about the laws there, but over here - for them to make this dive while the site was closed to diving, I doubt that they would want to document evidence that would be used against them - even with a heroic outcome. Maybe things are very different there?

 

[Pekka L]

One of the participants in the recovery operation has talked to Helsingin Sanomat, a Finnish paper. http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/Vainajia+noutanut+sukeltaja+HSlle+Tämä+on+helpotus+meille+kaikille (in finnish)

Some points
- All three survivors from the original fatal dive were among the group, but all of them did not take part in the diving in this operation
- Planning of the operation had started right after Norwegian officials informed they would not go through with recovery
- first participants went to Norway Wednesday before last. Recovery operation started Sunday and ended last Wednesday
- Recovery operation took a day less than anticipated, it was easier than they expected
- some equipment was damaged while transporting the deceased, but while divers were in water there were no problems

_____________
Added some more info from Finnish broadcasting company:

- the group was in contact with the families of the deceased before operation
- 12 persons from Finland went to Plurdalen, Norway
- the group had help from "local Norwegians".
(speculation: 12 from Finland, reported group size 17 = 5 Norwegians)
- water temperature was 3 degrees Celsius
- dives took 6 hours a piece
- after operation two from the group stayed in Norway to help officials and tell about operation, the rest left to Finland​

 

[Storker]

I certainly don't know anything about the laws there, but over here - for them to make this dive while the site was closed to diving, I doubt that they would want to document evidence that would be used against them - even with a heroic outcome. Maybe things are very different there?

I don't think documentation would have made a difference. The facts are pretty clear: the divers consciously broke the ban on diving the cave, and they notified the police about it themselves, after the operation was finished. The local police have also stated that prosecuting the Finns for the infraction "is not a priority".

 

[Tigerman]

...
Maybe things are very different there?

Things are indeed VERY different here in some ways, but in others its very similar...
I.E an official recovery team doing a job has lot of health and safety requirements that a private person wouldnt have (very similar to the US I suspect), but a private person wouldnt be able to sue anyone for not stopping them going into the cave and getting themselves injured (very different to the US I suspect)

 

[Pekka L]

Plura recovery operation report from Finnish Divers´Federation, https://www.sukeltaja.fi/content/fi/11501/10832/227/227.html

_______________________

"Raportti Norjan nosto-operaatiosta - Plura recovery operation report

28.03.2014 14:26

Sukeltajaliitto julkaisee Norjan Plurdalenin maaliskuun 2014 nosto-operaation raportin sellaisena kuin sukellustiimi on sen Liitolle toimittanut. Liitto ei anna julkisuuteen nostoon osallistuneiden sukeltajien henkilötietoja. Raportti on englanninkielinen.

Finnish Divers' Federation publishes the diving report of Plurdalen, March 2014, as it is written by the recovery team. The Federation doesn't give out further information of those involved in the recovery operation. The report is written in English.

PLURA RECOVERY OPERATION REPORT

This is a report from the recovery operation done 22-26.3.2014 in valley of Plurdalen. Recovery operation was arranged to get home the two divers who lost their lives in diving accident 6.2.2014. Further reasons to do this project in addition to help families of the victims to get their loved ones back, was to do a favor for the cave diving community to help keep the Plura cave open in the future. This was a very unfortunate accident inside a sport which has otherwise good safety record.

Planning of this project started after the official recovery project was cancelled. Team of divers and surface people, total of 17 were gathered to complete this mission. People to do this project were chosen for their capabilities, local knowledge, experience in these diving conditions, cave knowledge and especially familiarity of the deep section of the cave. Plan was to enter from Plura side and remove first victim from the restriction and then escort both victims to Steinugleflåget.

Project started Saturday 22.3.2014 with Steinugleflåget rigging, rope track across the collapse outside and inside hand rails were installed to help gear hauling. Total of 1100kg of gear including 26 safety gas tanks, 5 rebreathers, 5 dive scooters and additional gear were taken down to the Steinugleflåget cave to have two fully equipped safety diver teams in use.

Sunday 23.3.2014 were used to install the needed safety equipment to both Plura and Steinugleflåget sides. All 10 divers were using rebreather dive systems which are sufficient for the whole planned dive times. For emergency situations full safety gas reserve were needed, in Steinugleflåget reserve was planned for 2,5 persons and in Plura for 1,5 persons. Also there was bailout rebreathers in standby on both ends of the cave. To have 10-15min work time with the victims ment that dives would be 5-7h long. Worst case scenario was that divers can't go through from Plura side to Steinugleflåget side and have to come back, this would have ment +10h dive. Addition to the safety gas reserve, a safety habitat was built to Plura side. This habitat would allow divers to get out from the cold water and have safer decompression.

Everything was ready on Monday 24.3.2014 and the recovery could start. Work team started their dive 11:00 from Plura entrance and they were supported by 3 dive teams, one in Plura and two in Steinugleflåget. Travel time from Plura entrance to the victims is about 50min and it goes though the deepest section of the cave 130m. Work team arrived to the first victim and could see him in the narrow part of the cave, divers pulled the victim backwards and were able to cut him loose from the equipment. Transportation of the victim through deep and narrow cave system is very challenging task and job was done by first diver towing the victim with a dive scooter and second diver manouvering the victim. Support divers were met in the shallow water and they continued the transportation and work divers were left to finish their 7h dive.

Priority number one in Tuesday 25.3.2014 was to escort second victim out from the cave and if everything would go well, also take the safety gasses out from the cave. Work divers travelled now from Steinugleflåget to the accident place. Second victim was lying on his back, wearing all the dive gear. Again the victim were cut out from the equipment and attached to the scooter for towing. With this same dive, one backup computer, dive scooter and one bailout tank were brought up from the cave. As everything went as planned, all the 26 safety gas tanks were also taken out from the cave.

Wednesday 26.3.2014 were used to haul everything out from Steinugleflåget dry cave and also retrieve all the gear from Plura cave. In the evening the whole project group went down to Steinugleflåget and took out the bodies from water and put them to body bags. Silent moment was held for the memory of our lost friends.

All the work dives were documented with helmet cameras to provide further details about accident causes, all filmed material and retrieved gear is handed over to the local police. Project was done in 5 days, total of 101h of diving were need to complete the project.

We would like to address our deepest regret to the families of the victims, in time of the sorrow it's a relief to know that healing process can start now.

Big thanks to the project group who worked around to clock to make this happen, your voluntary work and determination made this happen.
On behalf of the whole project group

28.3.2014

Mo I Rana, Norway"

 

[Storker]

According to the Finnish broadcasting company, Norwegian police are satisfied with the way the Finnish team has cooperated with the police after they notified them about the concluded operation (note that the chief of police isn't quoted on her opinion about the operation itself, only on the way the Finns have cooperated with the police during the questioning. However, the way the Finnish site is wording it, it can be misunderstood)

The local newspaper of the place one of the divers come from has an interview with him. It seems as if it's one of the three who survived the fatal dive in February. The article is behind a paywall, but Google cache has a copy.


The articles are in Swedish. As before, you've got to run the articles through Google translate yourself.

EDIT: The first body has been taken out of the dry cave and brought to the surface. They count on finishing the task of bringing out the bodies tomorrow Saturday: http://www.ranablad.no/nyheter/article7258951.ece

 

[vplehto]

There is some amount of Articles in e.g. Finnish main newspaper Helsinginsanomat HS.

I link here them with brief english subject translations (the content may change):

Toisen suomalaissukeltajan ruumis nostettu maan pinnalle - Sukellus - Ulkomaat - Helsingin Sanomat
Raportti: Vainajien nosto-operaatio vaati yli sata sukellustuntia
Report: Lifting up victims took over hundred hours of diving

Vainajia noutanut sukeltaja HS:lle: "Tämä on helpotus meille kaikille" - Sukellus - Ulkomaat - Helsingin Sanomat
Vainajia noutanut sukeltaja HS:lle: "Tämä on helpotus meille kaikille"
From the person who fetched the victims saying to HS: "This is a releaf to all of us"

Vainajien noutoon osallistunut sukeltaja Borgåbladetille: "Se vain piti tehdä" - Sukellus - Ulkomaat - Helsingin Sanomat
Suurin osa suomalaissukeltajista on jo palannut kotiin Norjasta. Vainajien noutoon osallistunut sukeltaja Borgåbladetille: "Se vain piti tehdä"
Most of the finnish divers have already returned back home from Norway. From the person who participated on operation to Borgåbladet: "It just had to be done"

In this article it is said:

"Vainajien nouto-operaatioon osallistunut porvoolaissukeltaja kertoo Borgåbladetille, että hän päätti noutaa ystävänsä, jollei kukaan muu sitä tekisi. Hän oli mukana luolassa helmikuun alussa, kun onnettomuus sattui."

"From the person who participated to recovery operation (diver from Porvoo (City in finland)) told to Borgåbladet, that he decided to recover his friend, if no one else would do it. He was in the cave at february when the accident happened."

 

[Jan Kruger]

PLURA RECOVERY OPERATION REPORT

This is a report from the recovery operation done 22-26.3.2014 in valley of Plurdalen. Recovery operation was arranged to get home the two divers who lost their lives in diving accident 6.2.2014. Further reasons to do this project in addition to help families of the victims to get their loved ones back, was to do a favor for the cave diving community to help keep the Plura cave open in the future. This was a very unfortunate accident inside a sport which has otherwise good safety record.

Planning of this project started after the official recovery project was cancelled. Team of divers and surface people, total of 17 were gathered to complete this mission. People to do this project were chosen for their capabilities, local knowledge, experience in these diving conditions, cave knowledge and especially familiarity of the deep section of the cave. Plan was to enter from Plura side and remove first victim from the restriction and then escort both victims to Steinugleflåget.

Project started Saturday 22.3.2014 with Steinugleflåget rigging, rope track across the collapse outside and inside hand rails were installed to help gear hauling. Total of 1100kg of gear including 26 safety gas tanks, 5 rebreathers, 5 dive scooters and additional gear were taken down to the Steinugleflåget cave to have two fully equipped safety diver teams in use.

Sunday 23.3.2014 were used to install the needed safety equipment to both Plura and Steinugleflåget sides. All 10 divers were using rebreather dive systems which are sufficient for the whole planned dive times. For emergency situations full safety gas reserve were needed, in Steinugleflåget reserve was planned for 2,5 persons and in Plura for 1,5 persons. Also there was bailout rebreathers in standby on both ends of the cave. To have 10-15min work time with the victims ment that dives would be 5-7h long. Worst case scenario was that divers can't go through from Plura side to Steinugleflåget side and have to come back, this would have ment +10h dive. Addition to the safety gas reserve, a safety habitat was built to Plura side. This habitat would allow divers to get out from the cold water and have safer decompression.

Everything was ready on Monday 24.3.2014 and the recovery could start. Work team started their dive 11:00 from Plura entrance and they were supported by 3 dive teams, one in Plura and two in Steinugleflåget. Travel time from Plura entrance to the victims is about 50min and it goes though the deepest section of the cave 130m. Work team arrived to the first victim and could see him in the narrow part of the cave, divers pulled the victim backwards and were able to cut him loose from the equipment. Transportation of the victim through deep and narrow cave system is very challenging task and job was done by first diver towing the victim with a dive scooter and second diver manouvering the victim. Support divers were met in the shallow water and they continued the transportation and work divers were left to finish their 7h dive.

Priority number one in Tuesday 25.3.2014 was to escort second victim out from the cave and if everything would go well, also take the safety gasses out from the cave. Work divers travelled now from Steinugleflåget to the accident place. Second victim was lying on his back, wearing all the dive gear. Again the victim were cut out from the equipment and attached to the scooter for towing. With this same dive, one backup computer, dive scooter and one bailout tank were brought up from the cave. As everything went as planned, all the 26 safety gas tanks were also taken out from the cave.

Wednesday 26.3.2014 were used to haul everything out from Steinugleflåget dry cave and also retrieve all the gear from Plura cave. In the evening the whole project group went down to Steinugleflåget and took out the bodies from water and put them to body bags. Silent moment was held for the memory of our lost friends.

All the work dives were documented with helmet cameras to provide further details about accident causes, all filmed material and retrieved gear is handed over to the local police. Project was done in 5 days, total of 101h of diving were need to complete the project.

We would like to address our deepest regret to the families of the victims, in time of the sorrow it's a relief to know that healing process can start now.

Big thanks to the project group who worked around to clock to make this happen, your voluntary work and determination made this happen.
On behalf of the whole project group

Like I mentioned before Huge effort ! The planning must have been exceptional for an operation this big , complex complete with dangerous diving . Thank you for inserting the diver's report..it clarified a number of issues. Once again Well done to all involved.

I would like to read about this recovery effort in a book written by one of the " insiders" similar to the one written about the recovery effort that was made by Dave Shaw at Boesmansgat in South Africa. Fascinating at the least.

 

[vplehto]

Sorry for not translating fully these articles, please try to use google translate from Finnish to your language

Vainajat irrottanut sukeltaja: Olosuhteet luolassa ovat verrattavissa kuukävelyyn - Sukellus - Ulkomaat - Helsingin Sanomat
Vainajat irrottanut sukeltaja: Olosuhteet luolassa ovat verrattavissa kuukävelyyn
From the diver who recovered the bodies: Conditions in cave is comparable to walking in the moon

from the article, one of the diver who detached the deceased

"Näin kuvaa sukelluskouluttaja Sami Paakkarinen olosuhteita Plurdalenin luolastossa Norjassa. Hän on yksi niistä 17 suomalaisesta, jotka lähtivät hakemaan luolaan kuolleita sukeltajaystäviään pintaan. Kaikki olivat vainajien ystäviä."
So describes divingtrainer Sami Paakkarinen conditions in Plurdalen cave Norway. He is one of the 17 finns, who left to cave to recover their diving friends to surface. All were friends of deceased."