Posted by Ken Kurtis on July 26, 2001 at 23:36:45:
As some of you may recall from a thread that ran back in September, Gail Garcia was involved in (what was then) a near-drowning at Casino Point last September.
She was a certified diver who had been inactive for a while (two years as I recall) and wanted to do an "easy" dive with some friends. Unfortunately, something went wrong (we still don't know exactly what), and she was found on the bottom (around 55') unconscious and not breathing. I helped pull her in and gave mouth-to-mouth on the way.
I was informed today that Gail has died. Below is the announcement from Toyota, where she worked, of her passing.
I hope we won't use her death as a pulpit to espouse a partcular view of diving, but that her passing will serve as a reminder that it's not the agency, it's not the gear, it's not the location, but that it's the diver upon whom the ultimate success or failure of a dive rests.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, Ca.
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Subject: With Toyota's Sympathy
I am saddened to inform you today of the passing of Gail Garcia.
As many of you know, Gail was involved in a near drowning accident
while SCUBA diving off Catalina Island last September. Since the accident, Gail had remained in an irreversible coma at her home.
Gail's family has requested, in lieu of phone calls, flowers or other
gifts, that donations be made in her name to Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber or the Brain Injury Association, Inc.
Funeral Services are pending and will be forthcoming.