covediver
Contributor
SeaLife Center diver dies in training
from the Anchorage Daily News
By JAMES HALPIN
jhalpin@adn.com
(Published: September 26, 2007)
An Alaska SeaLife Center diver on a scientific training dive in Resurrection Bay died when his tank ran out of air Tuesday afternoon, Alaska State Troopers said.
Anchorage resident Matthew Myers, 44, died while diving near Fox Island as part of a two-person team after signaling to his partner that he had run out of oxygen.
Myers and a person identified only as a "master diver" surfaced successfully, troopers reported. But Myers was not able to manipulate his secondary air supply or take off his weight belt "as instructed," according to troopers.
Both divers began swimming to shore, but on the way Myers slipped under the water and did not resurface.
Troopers in Seward were alerted at about 12:15 p.m. The Coast Guard was also alerted, and it dispatched a crew from the cutter Mustang, which is docked in Seward, along with an HC-60 helicopter from Air Station Kodiak.
The Seward Fire Department responded with a rescue boat as well.
Divers from the Alaska SeaLife Center and searchers working the surface were able to locate Myers about one hour after he went missing.
The Coast Guard transported him to the Seward boat harbor, from which he was transported by ambulance to Providence Hospital in Seward.
Myers was pronounced dead at about 2:15 p.m. Next of kin has been notified.
from the Anchorage Daily News
By JAMES HALPIN
jhalpin@adn.com
(Published: September 26, 2007)
An Alaska SeaLife Center diver on a scientific training dive in Resurrection Bay died when his tank ran out of air Tuesday afternoon, Alaska State Troopers said.
Anchorage resident Matthew Myers, 44, died while diving near Fox Island as part of a two-person team after signaling to his partner that he had run out of oxygen.
Myers and a person identified only as a "master diver" surfaced successfully, troopers reported. But Myers was not able to manipulate his secondary air supply or take off his weight belt "as instructed," according to troopers.
Both divers began swimming to shore, but on the way Myers slipped under the water and did not resurface.
Troopers in Seward were alerted at about 12:15 p.m. The Coast Guard was also alerted, and it dispatched a crew from the cutter Mustang, which is docked in Seward, along with an HC-60 helicopter from Air Station Kodiak.
The Seward Fire Department responded with a rescue boat as well.
Divers from the Alaska SeaLife Center and searchers working the surface were able to locate Myers about one hour after he went missing.
The Coast Guard transported him to the Seward boat harbor, from which he was transported by ambulance to Providence Hospital in Seward.
Myers was pronounced dead at about 2:15 p.m. Next of kin has been notified.