Posted by Ken Kurtis on September 24, 2002 at 11:29:39:
In Reply to: Diver down at Casino Point? posted by Urchindiver2002 on September 24, 2002 at 10:07:39:
Here's what I know from a "highly-placed" source as well as one of my instructors, who got there about an hour after this all happened.
The fatality occured Saturday, mid-morning at the Underwater Park. The victim, a male in his 50s, was a student in a basic class (no, NOT Sport Chalet - nor Reef Seekers, for that matter). He was doing the ESA (Emergency Swimming Ascent) drill. I presume his instructor was at his side.
Apparently, the student/victim made it to the surface. He then proceeded to orally inflate his BC. After about three or four puffs, he passed out on the surface.
I happen to know the instuctor involved (I've not talked with him yet) and he's also a trained EMT. I assume he initiated mouth-to-mouth and towed the victim to shore. Baywatch was summoned and the victim was taken to the Catalina Chamber. To my knowledge, they were never able to regain a heartbeat on the way to the Chmaber. He was recompressed but they were still unable to revive him or get any life signs and he was declared dead.
As far as I know, the autopsy has NOT yet been completed (which is not unusal). Leading candidates for cause of death would be heart attack (based on his age) or embolism (based on the activity at the time). However, we can't know for sure until the results of the autopsy are known.
I also have a personal request for those who choose to discuss this or comment on this tradgey.
I don't think this is the place for flip remarks about rebreathers or jokes about this. Let's not lose sight of the fact that one person is dead and his family, as we as others who may have tried to save him, have been traumatized by this event. It's not a joking matter. We can certainly discuss what happened and learn from it, but let's try to do it with at least a modiucum of sensitivity and decorum.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA