Training death in Cozumel

[scubaren]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

 

[davidofaustin]

The diving community is so full of wonderful caring people.

Thank you all, for the love, support, and caring. May we dive together some day. (If we havent already.)

Dave

 

[diverdoug1]

Very sorry for your loss. I am intimately aware of the pain associated with the loss of a child. With respect to question about embalming having an effect on a second autopsy, yes it can cause some clouding of the autopsy results. In this case, it may make it difficult to tell if there was aspiration of seawater. If there is a question of the veracity of any initial autopsy findings, utilizing an independent pathologist to reveiw the case prior to embalming may be an option.
Hope this is helpful.

 

[RubberDucky]

Hi Dave,

I just sent you a private message with information about a few people on the island that you may want to get in touch with. Sorry to hear about what happened :'(

 

[DandyDon]

This just totally sucks. Very sorry for your loss, Dave. I have a grandson the same age who worries me with his independence in murky lake water and have considered the horror of a similar possibility.

You certainly have the condolences and support of many or us here. Damn!

 

[TSandM]

Sorry not to respond earlier, but I was on an airplane most of yesterday. And I don't really have any answers. Medical examiners vary in their expertise and experience, but I would think one on Cozumel would have seen enough diver fatalities to know what to look for in drowning or arterial gas embolism. My initial thought, from the small amount of information available, is that the death was either AGE or laryngospasm, which can occur when salt water gets into the trachea or breathing passage. There are also some rare cardiac conditions that predispose young people to cardiac arrest when exercising, but I don't believe they show up on autopsy.

How much embalming would affect autopsy results, I don't know, but I would think it could obliterate evidence of arterial gas embolism. I'm not a pathologist or medical examiner, though.

I am extremely sorry for your loss.

 

[DiveNav]

My, and my team, condolences to you and your family.

How old was your grand-son?

What is his name so we can mention him in our prayers ?

Alberto

 

[mstevens]

Consider trying to get him to the medical school in San Antonio. I worked on the autopsy service in Galveston when I was in medical school and am convinced that most general hospital pathologists are neither particularly interested in autopsies or that they get much practice. Only large teaching hospitals associated with medical schools are likely to have busy autopsy services with full-time specialists, which is what you want in this instance.

Autopsies can be very helpful. Even though I knew my daughter's cause of death beforehand, the autopsy results and discussion with the pathologist (who specialized in pediatric autopsies) found some things that nobody had known about and that helped make some things much more clear.

I realize your situation is very different and that nobody, ever, wants to be thinking about an autopsy on a kid he loves. You sound like a person who wants answers and this may be a way to get some.

 

[pidgiepoo]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Reminds me to be even more alert and cautious when my grandkids are diving Coz. Hope you find the answers and results you are looking for concerning the autopsy.

 

[Christi]

Christi,
Anything you can find out for me; especially full circumstances, would help my wife and I deal with this. Please PM, or send via dave@divemasters.org though.

Thank you

HI David - I just sent you an e-mail. I hope you and your family are hanging in there.