skdevlieger
Registered
Don't know if this helps, but I will offer what I know, in order to help other divers in the future. While the (fraternal) 21 year old twins began their ascent at the same time, Andrew ascended a slight bit more slowly, due to his troubles equalizing (always has had troubles with this). He said that he ascended mostly upside down, so that he could watch his brother. This put the BC vest BELOW him, which actually helped him a little, to keep that BC vest under control.
Also, MAYBE (speculation here) any nitrogen bubbles HE DID have, would not have been as focused on his spine area, since bubbles tend to go to the highest point. Matthew was face down, and the highest point for him would have naturally been the back area. Andrew did have some slight bend issues in his knees, but no major hits like Matthew.
They said they believed Andrew surfaced about a minute after Matthew did. Matthew allowed Andrew to go on the boat first (so typical of him-puts his brother first), Then, while he waited next to the boat,he said to his Dad, "Dad,my chest hurts." His Dad said,"Get on the boat fast",and both guys helped get him up fast.
As he got on the boat, he laid down on the bottom of the boat. The paralysis began in the feet, then legs, then belly, then chest. He said," I can't move my legs", followed by an intense struggle to breath. He said he couldn't get air, and was really struggling. The Doctor interpreted this by telling us that the paralysis began at the bottom of the spinal cord ( T11) and worked its way UP, luckily stopping right before the area of the cord whose nerves control the lungs, but touching it enough that he had the trouble breathing. It was a miracle that it stopped just short of these nerves. This is why most people in this situation die on the boat.
Doc described it as a massive hit to the spinal cord- a massive stroke to the spinal cord, from the lack of blood supply (the nitrogen bubbles cut off the blood supply to the spinal cord). The MRI showed a solid dark line from the cervical area, all through the thoracic, in the very center of the spinal cord. That means the nerve cells in the core of the spinal cord are either severely damaged or dead- they dont have a way to know for sure. At this point, they said it is up to "nature" to see what the healing will be (so it is in God's hands).
The talk of 20 minutes was by the news media, not from us. Yes, Matthew's guage read 135 feet. Andrew's guage read a little deeper, but we don't know why, (150 feet) because it is not supposed to be that deep? We think there must have been something wrong with his guage. Although, Andrew did dive "under" the front of the ship at some point. At one point in time, Andrew was "caught" in some fishing line above the ship, and his Dad had to help him out of that. While Matthew was waiting for that to occur, he said he pretty much waited on the bottom on the sand, which would have shortened his air supply. They were not on nitrox, just regular tank fill. None of these guys ever drink alcohol, so that was not a factor.
Matthew stopped for decompression, at around 30 feet, but not for long enough, only for about one minute. He said he was going up at an angle, then suddenly the BC vest, which he was TRYING to control, shot him to the surface straight up and fast, from about 25 feet to the surface. It happened so fast. I know I have had that happen to me while diving, but certainly not from this deep of a dive. Sadly, it happened.
When they were deep, Matthew saw his tank air was at 200-300psi, and knew he had to GO !! ( Yes- I agree- big mistake-here- I'm guessing he should have GONE UP at 700-1000psi) His twin was spear fishing, too, and going the opposite direction, so Matthew had to tell Andrew FIRST that he was going up, so he SWAM to him to tell him (thus using up more air). Andrews guage said he had 400 psi at this point. Then they began ascending together. Neither ran out of air during the whole ascent, and still had air left at the surface. At the 30 feet stop, Matthew said he felt how he had to "pull" a little harder to get the air out of his regulator.
They were not on a charter boat, they have their own boat. They make the trip to Florida 3-4 times a year for scuba trips together, so have logged in tons of dives together. Matthew and Andrew both had NEW tanks- sizes 119cf. Bob(Dad) had the old tank of 80cf.
The doctors said there are SO FEW cases similar to this, so they have nothing to compare his case to. It's because people DON'T SURVIVE this hard of a hit on the spinal cord, but die on the boat. I researched the past 100 scuba diving deaths in South Florida trying to find a case of someone similar, found cases, but no survivors. Just one guy from California had something similar, and described himself as "the luckiest guy in the world".
Hope in some way this information will be helpful to train other divers,and avoid future deaths, accidents. I hope to answer any other questions you have for this end result. Most of you are dive instructors, so please teach others from all of our details and mistakes. And yes, they SHOULD have stayed together !! Please do take the time to pray for his recovery to wholeness by a miracle from God. Thank you from my heart !!
Also, MAYBE (speculation here) any nitrogen bubbles HE DID have, would not have been as focused on his spine area, since bubbles tend to go to the highest point. Matthew was face down, and the highest point for him would have naturally been the back area. Andrew did have some slight bend issues in his knees, but no major hits like Matthew.
They said they believed Andrew surfaced about a minute after Matthew did. Matthew allowed Andrew to go on the boat first (so typical of him-puts his brother first), Then, while he waited next to the boat,he said to his Dad, "Dad,my chest hurts." His Dad said,"Get on the boat fast",and both guys helped get him up fast.
As he got on the boat, he laid down on the bottom of the boat. The paralysis began in the feet, then legs, then belly, then chest. He said," I can't move my legs", followed by an intense struggle to breath. He said he couldn't get air, and was really struggling. The Doctor interpreted this by telling us that the paralysis began at the bottom of the spinal cord ( T11) and worked its way UP, luckily stopping right before the area of the cord whose nerves control the lungs, but touching it enough that he had the trouble breathing. It was a miracle that it stopped just short of these nerves. This is why most people in this situation die on the boat.
Doc described it as a massive hit to the spinal cord- a massive stroke to the spinal cord, from the lack of blood supply (the nitrogen bubbles cut off the blood supply to the spinal cord). The MRI showed a solid dark line from the cervical area, all through the thoracic, in the very center of the spinal cord. That means the nerve cells in the core of the spinal cord are either severely damaged or dead- they dont have a way to know for sure. At this point, they said it is up to "nature" to see what the healing will be (so it is in God's hands).
The talk of 20 minutes was by the news media, not from us. Yes, Matthew's guage read 135 feet. Andrew's guage read a little deeper, but we don't know why, (150 feet) because it is not supposed to be that deep? We think there must have been something wrong with his guage. Although, Andrew did dive "under" the front of the ship at some point. At one point in time, Andrew was "caught" in some fishing line above the ship, and his Dad had to help him out of that. While Matthew was waiting for that to occur, he said he pretty much waited on the bottom on the sand, which would have shortened his air supply. They were not on nitrox, just regular tank fill. None of these guys ever drink alcohol, so that was not a factor.
Matthew stopped for decompression, at around 30 feet, but not for long enough, only for about one minute. He said he was going up at an angle, then suddenly the BC vest, which he was TRYING to control, shot him to the surface straight up and fast, from about 25 feet to the surface. It happened so fast. I know I have had that happen to me while diving, but certainly not from this deep of a dive. Sadly, it happened.
When they were deep, Matthew saw his tank air was at 200-300psi, and knew he had to GO !! ( Yes- I agree- big mistake-here- I'm guessing he should have GONE UP at 700-1000psi) His twin was spear fishing, too, and going the opposite direction, so Matthew had to tell Andrew FIRST that he was going up, so he SWAM to him to tell him (thus using up more air). Andrews guage said he had 400 psi at this point. Then they began ascending together. Neither ran out of air during the whole ascent, and still had air left at the surface. At the 30 feet stop, Matthew said he felt how he had to "pull" a little harder to get the air out of his regulator.
They were not on a charter boat, they have their own boat. They make the trip to Florida 3-4 times a year for scuba trips together, so have logged in tons of dives together. Matthew and Andrew both had NEW tanks- sizes 119cf. Bob(Dad) had the old tank of 80cf.
The doctors said there are SO FEW cases similar to this, so they have nothing to compare his case to. It's because people DON'T SURVIVE this hard of a hit on the spinal cord, but die on the boat. I researched the past 100 scuba diving deaths in South Florida trying to find a case of someone similar, found cases, but no survivors. Just one guy from California had something similar, and described himself as "the luckiest guy in the world".
Hope in some way this information will be helpful to train other divers,and avoid future deaths, accidents. I hope to answer any other questions you have for this end result. Most of you are dive instructors, so please teach others from all of our details and mistakes. And yes, they SHOULD have stayed together !! Please do take the time to pray for his recovery to wholeness by a miracle from God. Thank you from my heart !!
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