Teenage diver search called off

[Lonefox]

"The search for a 14-year-old diver missing off Devon has been called off. "

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Devon | Teenage diver search called off

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Devon | No sign of missing teenage diver

"When they were 10 metres from the surface, the teenager signalled to his father he was OK, but when the man reached the surface he could not see his son. "

Don't know if the press has got the facts wrong, BBC are usually a bit better than most, but there's no indication of a safety stop, if I were diving with my dive buddy, generally we stop at 5 metres together, and maintain eye contact all the way to the surface, the worse the vis, the closer we watch each other.

Hope he turns up ok, but it doesn't look promising.

 

[Tricia]

The good news is that the second story above says:

"Police said following the dive, the father was first to surface and the boy was seen to surface soon after.

"He was described by family as being seen slightly tilted backwards as though his jacket was inflated and was buoyant in no apparent signs of distress," a police spokesperson said."

So it sounds like he surfaced OK and then got pulled by a current. Let's cross our fingers he's just out there floating around and waiting to be picked up.

Trish

 

[Lonefox]

We can hope that is the case, but the conditions have been pretty horrendous for the last 24 hours, and gale force winds are forecast today.

 

[fairybasslet]

Oy. I hope they find him alive.

 

[String]

Weather horrific this week - im amazed anyone managed to even try diving. It sounds like surface separation which is good news in a way.

Big spring tides and bad weather. It doesn't say what exposure protection was worn either - if its a wetsuit time is running out. Dry suit there's more chance

Only obvious thing is why didnt they surface together ?
It would also appear the boat didn't have a VHF radio which if true is complete lunacy.

 

[Gombessa]

Man, a sad story, but hopefully one that will still have a happy ending.

I guess the real question is how far apart were they when they surfaced? It's not uncommon for one person to ascend the last few feet more quickly than his buddy, or to lose contact during a safety stop. In these cases though, you typically come up fairly close to each other. Why didn't they swim to the RIB together? Did the father tell the boy to stay there, that he'd start the boat and pick him up?

 

[String]

I guess the real question is how far apart were they when they surfaced? It's not uncommon for one person to ascend the last few feet more quickly than his buddy, or to lose contact during a safety stop. In these cases though, you typically come up fairly close to each other. Why didn't they swim to the RIB together? Did the father tell the boy to stay there, that he'd start the boat and pick him up?

It doesnt mention it but id assume the RIB was manned. Boats here are (i) never anchored and (ii) never left unmanned. If it was then its lunacy bordering on criminal.

If they surfaced away from it chances are due to tides and currents they couldnt swim back to the boat - spring tides this weekend.

Also no real excuse for losing sight of each other on the stops.

 

[Lonefox]

BBC NEWS | England | Devon | Search for teenage diver halted

Video explanation does seem to imply that they were diving from a small rib with no vhf radio, doesn't say whether there was any surface support aboard the rib.

 

[String]

Official MCGA for what its worth. Nothing new in it:

Press Notice No: Duty Press Notice
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Posted 01:17 GMT

SEARCH STOOD DOWN FOR MISSING DIVER

A search that had been ongoing since one o clock this afternoon in the Berry Head area for a missing 14 year old diver was stood down at nine o clock this evening (Tuesday).

The search, coordinated by Brixham Coastguard and involving Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats, police divers and other pleasure vessels in the area, along with helicopters from the Coastguard, Royal Navy, RAF and Police, has now been terminated due to fading light.

The search began this afternoon when a father and son had been diving together North of Berry Head near Brixham, and the son failed to surface. A Mayday was issued and an extremely extensive search was undertaken but nothing was found.


Posted By: Rosie Tapping

Some confusion as to whether they mean a RIB or a simple inflatable/zodiac. Getting help from a passing charter would suggest the boat itself didnt have VHF or somehow wasn't able to get to them.

 

[Lonefox]

Diver, 14, feared dead off Devon coast - This Britain, UK - The Independent

"But the rest of the diving party – the boy's mother, aunt and uncle – were unable to start the boat. The boy and his father had to tread water while the group flagged down a passing vessel for help."

It does appear that there were family members with the Rib, but they were having difficulties starting the engine, there's no indication of whether there was any current.