Tragedy in Utah

[northcoast_diver]

Preety good sumation. I'd suggesgt a couple of changes:

" IT SEEMS LIKE DIVING ACCIDENTS TAKE TWO FORMS (FOR THE MOST PART), PEOPLE WHO MAKE MISTAKES DUE TO INEXPERIENCE, careleesness, or just ignoring their training AND some WHO SUFFER OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS WHILE DIVING."

You are trying to clean up the gender bias in the original post. Unfortunately, I think he was probably right. I have never heard of an overweight woman diver succombing to a heart attack while diving, whereas I have heard of at least a dozen males in that category.

I have also never heard of a woman diver doing something stupid, or exceeding her training level, and dying.

I do have an opinion of what women divers are most susceptible to, as a gender, that is fatal in diving. But I will keep that to myself, since I do not want to bring a swarm of protest upon myself for stating it. But it definitely does not including being overweight and out of shape for diving, nor being stupid while diving.

 

[Sue-ba]

I live in Utah and this is as much info I have been able to find. I am interested to know what the cause of death was. My heart does go out to her family.

 

[Kayla]

My thoughts and prayers will be with her family and friends during this hard time.

 

[DMDiver]

the SL Tribune ran this article this morning

Autopsy reveals cause of death: 'Dry-lung drowning'



Salt Lake City physician Deborah Robinson died of "dry-lung drowning" while scuba diving, according to autopsy results released Monday.
Sevier County Sheriff's Detective Kelvin Williams said Robinson, 53, died when extremely cold water entered her mouth and caused her throat to seize, essentially strangling her. But investigators still do not know all the circumstances surrounding her death Sept. 17 at Fish Lake in south-central Utah. Specifically, detectives are still trying to determine whether it was an accident or the result of faulty equipment.
Forensic investigators are still examining the scuba diving equipment for possible defects. She also may have removed her mask, or it may have become accidentally dislodged.
The air tanks contain a small computer that can provide a "dive profile," Williams said, but they are still waiting for the results. Robinson's diving partner, Myron Barrett, told police the two were down 30 feet when they got separated. He stopped at 15 feet and looked for her, but her body was not found until hours later.
- Matt Canham

My best wishes go to all of those who will miss her.
I don't think I have ever heard of Dry Lung Drowning before.
Dave

 

[scubapolly]

The air tanks contain a small computer that can provide a "dive profile," Williams said, but they are still waiting for the results. .
Dave

We have a computer in our air tanks? Is this some sort of "big brother project" to let the government know about our every move underwater? maybe it is a tool used by the SCUBA police that yank c-cards for OW divers who dive below 60feet without an advanced cert.
Man, I love it when non-divers try to talk about SCUBA diving and our equipment. At least this one didn't call it an Oxygen tank.
I am really hoping since there are only quotes around the dive profile part, that the reporter just did a poor job of paraphrasing what they guy investigating incident said, and that our "forensic expert" has clue one about diving.

Polly

 

[lostinspace]

We have a computer in our air tanks? Is this some sort of "big brother project" to let the government know about our every move underwater? maybe it is a tool used by the SCUBA police that yank c-cards for OW divers who dive below 60feet without an advanced cert.
Man, I love it when non-divers try to talk about SCUBA diving and our equipment. At least this one didn't call it an Oxygen tank.
I am really hoping since there are only quotes around the dive profile part, that the reporter just did a poor job of paraphrasing what they guy investigating incident said, and that our "forensic expert" has clue one about diving.

Polly

I also hope it is paraphrasing, but you can sort of get computers on the tanks - these new transducers that attach to your air tank can give a profile (via the wrist computer or directly attached like a gauge) of your air consumption. Perhaps (conjecture I know) this is what is meant?

I must admit, I've looked at the transducers and gone "oooooh....new toy.....cool....." but I had never imagined that they could be used to see your last breaths... a chilling thought.

 

[Mako Mark]

I don't think I have ever heard of Dry Lung Drowning before.
Dave

that is a new on for me too. has anyone heard of this before?

 

[TCDiver1]

Yeah, i read a small blurb on it in "Diving Medicine" by Bove. We had a suspected "dry drowning" incident in our neck of the woods last year.

Not sure all the dynamics of "dry drowning" are really understood though.

 

[wcsddvr]

Dry drowning is actually called laryngospasm. This is where the larynx or the vocal cords in the throat restrict and seal the airway. Victims that survive a dry drowning usually recover with no ill-effects as very little water enters the lungs.

Wet drowning victims usually do not fair so well if they survive the initial submersion or near drowning as water in the lungs can cause secondary drowning which is due to chemical or biological changes in the lungs.

 

[divenut2001]

Besides doing his safety stop I was just wondering why her buddy would wait and look for her @15ft instead of on the surface??? I'm thinking this is another case of "reporter misinterpretation".