Incidents List
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Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details -
2007 8 29 Rodriguez Joaquin Castelao Angel Spain Coral Diver 28 SCUBA Aged 74, known locally as 'the angel of coral' had spent over 20 years living in Alcudiq collecting coralharvesting coral ('Red Gold') from his boat 'Nemo' in the channel between Menorc and Mallorca, 17 miles north of the port of Alcudia, diving with his son, became ill during decompression stops. An SAR helicopter dropped a medic onboard who confirmed he had died. Had spent years criticising intensive fishing methoids (like beam trawling) which damage the seabed. Reported by Diario de Mallorca -
2007 8 22 Antinanco Pedro Alvarado Chile Aserma, Marine Harvest SCUBA Diver, Cultivation Center of Puchilco, located in Lemuy Island, Central Chiloé, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details -
2007 8 18 DSV "Orelia" UK Technip Saturation DP incident. Vessel attempted a 580m move when on DP sat diving ops set up 40 m from "Tartan A", Talisman. Heading would have taken the Orelia straight through the platform, swift action of the bridge crew saved the day and they stopped the run off 10m from the platform, divers down at the time (considering the batter of the platform the bell must have been pretty damn close) RIDDOR report submitted. DP fault found to be a switching bug buried deep in the core program software. Vessel has gone back to work with a "Don't operate this switch within 10 seconds of operating another switch" procedure prepared by the skipper. Inherent problem with the vessels DP Program which only came to light after 8 years of DP Operations (particular sequence of events which when executed within a particular time scale results in the vessel losing position). Kongsberg DP system but software by "Converteam". -
2007 8 14 DSV "Bar Protector" UK Saipem Saturation Dunbar replacement pipeline project. Collision between Crane on the DSV "Bar Protector" and the Dunbar Platform. High Potential Incident + Reportable to the HSE as a Dangerous Occurrence -
2007 8 12 Not Recorded Norway Saipem On 12 August a 48-year-old man died in an accident during work (lifting operation) on board the crane vessel Saipem 7000 near the Gullfaks field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. At around the 1000hrs the man fell overboard and was found dead shortly afterwards following a rescue operation. The deceased was an employee of Saipem, who during the weekend of 12/13 August has been working for Statoil installing a subsea separator at the Tordis field. The cause of the accident is being investigated (Actually found one and a half hours later on the seabed by the ROV) first offshore Norwegian fatality since 2002. -
2007 8 7 Primeau Christopher N USA Associated Underwater Services, Spokane 40 S/S Air American aged 35. Cherry Point Refinery, Bellingham (North of Puget sound). Sheriff's report "Primeau was checking for rocks/underwater cables, his job was to signal when 24-foot-tall steel pilings weighing up to nine tons could be lowered into the water, when crews could start driving the pilings and when they should stop once they'd been driven in to the appropriate depth. Depth about 140 feet, he signalled for crews to begin driving a piling, within 13 seconds, Primeau screamed, "All stop! All stop!" Camera and light on his helmet went dead, no comms. Hammer may have disconnected causing the piling to fall over. OSHA fines of $21,650. -
2007 8 0 Frog Incident Equatorial Guinea Exxon Mobil Early August, Equatorial Guinea, both primary and secondary wires parted during personnel transfer operations dropping the frog 4 metres to deck, one injured. Accelerated corrosion under the high visibility wire sheath, reported inspected less than 2 months prior to the incident. Sheath secured by velcro for easy access/inspection, but this one had been tie-wrapped in place. See IMCA SF 09/07 -
2006 8 29 McGrath Chandon Lee USA Bisso 67 S/S Mixed Gas East Area block 346, Rowan Drilling, Removal of the MODU "Rowan Halifax" (Sank on the lease during Hurricane Rita) Mixed gas surface diving from the DP II DSV "Global Explorer" run by International Subsea Inc., Houston. No real details, no audio record recovered by CG investigators, "audio malfunctioned" -
2006 8 26 Griffeth Kevin S USA Caldive 67 S/S Mixed Gas "Cal Diver IV", Main Pass area, Freeport-McMoRan Energy Inc, platform inspection. Began his ascent, at approx. 150 fsw a large manta ray became entangled in his dive hose, pulling the diver to the surface in a rapid ascent. Into DDC but died -
2006 8 17 Duque Steve Arctic USCG 6 SCUBA Diving off the USCG vessel "Healy", Alaska, under ice. Incompetence -
2006 8 17 Hill Jessica Arctic USCG 6 SCUBA Diving off the USCG vessel "Healy", Alaska, under ice. Incompetence -
2006 8 14 Andrews David USA Rutgers Institute 15 SCUBA Aged 56, diving off the research vessel 'Arabella' to install a sensor on the LEO-15 (Longterm Ecosystem Observatory), got into difficulty, was pulled aboard given CPR and air lifted to hospital but did not regain consciousness. CDNN -
2006 8 1 Cain Terrence Spain SCUBA British, aged 47, died on a holiday SCUBA dive off Benidorm from contaminated air (CO2 poisoning) -
2006 8 1 Erter Ryan USA 44 Vermillion VR 250, Remington Oil and Gas No formal reports are available yet. Diver apparently died in the deck chamber after recompression for suspected DCS ( on surfacing, complained of headaches and blurred vision) following a normally executed dive to approximately 150 FSW. Employer has released no information regarding the accident and the diving community awaits the reports from the Coast Guard and the MMS -
2006 8 0 Southworth Stephen Tobago Topsides British commercial saturation diver aged 40, died suddenly in a bar on the island of Tobago. The West Lancashire coroner ruled that the father of two had suffered clogging of his coronary arteries and an enlarged heart, which caused his death. He said doctors had passed him fit to dive in May 2006 and had not picked up on any major medical problems and recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. His widow told the court her husband, a saturation diver since 1997, had flown to the Caribbean to take up a job working on pipelines. She said she had spoken to him on a daily basis in the days running up to his death and he had been complaining about pain in his leg which were stopping him sleeping. "In the 10 days before he died, they had not been diving, he had worked on the decks of the boat. That night in the bar he dozed off. When his friends tried to wake him, at closing time, they couldn't. He was rushed to Port of Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem report, carried out in Trinidad found he died from sudden cardiac problems. A second post mortem, carried out in the UK, was unable to establish the cause of death. Reported in the Blackpool Gazette. -
2005 8 31 Mars TLP USA Shell The TLP housed both production and drilling facilites, including the Helmerich & Payne H&P 201 drilling rig. The installation was shut-in prior to the hurricane. Katrina toppled the derrick, which caused major damage to the rig floor and substructure. Later inspection found no underwater damage at the platform, but the topside damage was extensive and the platform was expected to remain unproductive until repairs were completed in 2006. Oil Rig Disasters -
2005 8 31 Rig 'Ocean Warwick' USA Diamond Offshore After breaking loose from its moorings in Main Pass Block, the Ocean Warwick drifted 66 nautical miles before finally running aground on Dauphin Island, Alabama.The Ocean Warwick suffered major damage as a result of Katrina, including the loss of its derrick and the eventual removal of the remains of the rig's legs during salvage operations. The Ocean Warwick was towed away on the 10th Oct 2005 to the Atlantic Marine dock yard in Mobile, Alabama for repairs. The rig was inspected and eventually written off in November 2005 due to extensive damage. The rig had been insured for US$50 million. Oil Rig Disasters -
2005 8 31 Rig 'Rowan New Orleans' USA Jack Up, Capssed and Sank, Hurricane Katrina -
2005 8 29 Hurricane Katrina USA The final toll for Katrina was 47 platforms destroyed with 20 suffering extensive damage, 6 rigs broken from moorings and set adrift, 3 platform rigs destroyed and 1 jack-up capsized (Rowan New Orleans), with 2 jackups, 
5 semi-subs and 2 platform rigs suffering extensive damage. Minerals Management Service -
2005 8 29 Rig 'PSS Chenul' USA The PSS Chemul semi-sub was under construction for PEMEX in the Bender Shipbuilding yard near Mobile, Alabama. It broke loose from its moorings during the hurricane was pushed upstream by the storm surge, where it eventually became wedged under the Cochrane Bridge. The rig remained pinned under the bridge for several hours, causing the closure of the bridge. After inspection, the innermost lanes of the bridge were re-opened, with the completion of repairs planned for the end of 2005. Oil Rig Disasters -
2005 8 27 Switala Michael USA Firefighter SCUBA American, aged 50, Lower Burrel, Pa, volunteer fire-fighter, Grove City Quarry, third training dive of the day, (purpose was to maintain PADI qualification). Completed dive, partner signaled ready to surface, he signaled back "OK� and began ascent but once on the surface could not locate Switala, but saw a flashlight distress signal underwater. Immediately descended, noticed that the regulator was out, tried to replace but it fell out, inflated BCD and brought him to the surface (estimated elapsed time at this point was less than one minute).. Taken to shore, immediately initiated CPR. Emergency medical services arrived within 15 minutes. Transported to a local hospital where he died the next day. The coroner listed the cause of death as drowning. Investigation recommended, 1: Fire departments should develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding diver training. 2: Fire departments should ensure that each diver maintains continuous visual, verbal, or physical contact with his or her dive partner. (line-tended from the surface or accompanied by another diver in the water) 3 : Fire departments should ensure that a backup diver and ninety-percent-ready diver are in position to render assistance. 4 : Fire departments should ensure that positive communication is established among all divers and those personnel who remain on the surface. (In this incident, there were no personnel at the surface to perform monitoring, and underwater diver-to-diver electronic devices were not used). -
2005 8 24 Stehbens Jarrod Australia University of Adelaide SCUBA Australian, Aged 23, gathering cuttlefish eggs for the university of Adelaide was killed by a Great White. Body never recovered, gear found intact Not wearing a shark repellor. Coroner was Anthony Schapel who recommended divers wear electric shark repellors as recommended by coroner Wayne Chivall after the death of Paul Buckland in April 2002 (Not mandatory, "but should not be discouraged when they are available") AAP General News, Australia -
2005 8 22 Not Recorded Spain German Navy Aged 24, diving off the German Minesweeper 'Homburg' at anchorage off Ageciras (Vessel was en route to Crete to join a NATO task force), described as 'on a routine diving exercise for training purposes in the Bay of Algeciras', diver appers to have suffered a decompression incident, initially treated onboard the minesweeper which then took him to Gibraltar (Because there are at least two Navy decompression chambers wheras there are none in Algeciras), medics from the Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar met the vessel when it docked at the South Mole but in spite of intensive efforts including the use of a deibrillator, were unable to revive him. Doctors concluded that he had died whilst the ship as still at sea (Onboard the FGS Homburg and therefore on German soil) and the coroner released the body to the German authorities who flew it to Germany on a CL60 military aircraft for a post mortem. No details. Reported by Panorama (Gibraltar) -
2005 8 21 Tychansky Gerry Canada CJ Productions Rebreather Aged 43, during filming of low budget horror movie "Marina Monster" at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club. He was pulled lifeless from the water after towing a film prop shaped like a shark. Natural causes, heart attack, coroner indicated natural causes but also concerns with equipment maintenance -
2005 8 11 Not Recorded Philippines SCUBA A diver looter drowned in Subic Bay near the former US navy base north of Manila when attempting to steal artifacts from the sunken battleship U.S.S. New York which served in the second world war. A local patrol ship found a small boat carrying two diver looters, who were apprehended after a short chase. One of the divers escaped from the patrol-men and drowned “due to his poor diving gear� The other diver was arrested with his looted materials (scrap metal) confiscated. Xinhua News Agency -
2005 8 7 Hernandez Juan Miranda Chile Marine Harvest SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Quinchao, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details -
2005 8 7 Priz AS-28 USSR RN 191 Minisub Russian “Priz� class submarine rescue vehicle with 7 crew trapped on seabed insubmarine hydrophone cables off Kamchatka (AS-28 was a 13 metre long submarine rescue unit designed to carry a rescue crew of 4 to transfer personnel from a sunken submarine on 6 hour missions. It was being used with a 7 man crew to carry out repairs to the submarine listening system and was carrying enough compressed air to last them 72 hours). Cut free after 4,500 mile air freight/rescue mission by UK based DSRV crew using Scorpio 45, Royal Navy Submarine Rescue Service, to cut them free, the mission was completed just as the air ran out (they were down to the last cylinder of air), all 7 crew OK. Described in a book, "72 hours", by Frank Pope -
2005 8 5 Maldonado Luis Ojeda Chile Los Fiordos SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Quellon, body not recovered. Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details -
2004 8 20 Rig 'Jim Cunningham' Egypt Semi Sub, Blow -
2004 8 17 Fleming Adrian Canada Atlantic Fisheries SCUBA Canadian, aged 45, working on moorings in Bay Bulls harbour, Newfoundland, Drowned. The boat tour company was prosecuted for employing an unqualified diver. “He was inspecting moorings for a boat-tour company when he died and his death has once again brought to the fore the concerns surrounding diving work — work that provincial legislation says should be done by fully-equipped commercial divers, and the work that is actually done on an almost daily basis by divers who are neither fully equipped nor trained to the standard required by that legislation.� “All the regulations in the world won't save a life if they aren't enforced. That's a point that has already been made too many times in this province. In fact, if it is clear to all that no one is responsible for enforcing them, the toughest regulations in the world really aren't worth the paper they are printed on.� “Atlantic Fisheries Ltd. was charged with seven counts of violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The charges followed an investigation of the occupational health and safety branch of the government services department. A government statement said the charges "relate generally to its failure as an employer to ensure that its workers were made familiar with the hazards that may be met by them at the workplace, and to ensure the diving operation was conducted in accordance with the requirements of the related Canadian Standards Association code." The diver was not registered with the Diver Certification Board of Canada, the body that recognizes commercial divers. Reported by press and CDNN -
2004 8 10 Rig 'Adriatic IV' Egypt Jack Up drilling in the Med. Blowout. Subsequent fire destroyed the rig and the Temsah platform -
2004 8 0 Rosenbaum Anthony USA Caldive 70 "Caldiver II", 3rd degree burns, law suit, Broco BR 22 defective manufacturing plus bad technique -
2003 8 19 Zinck James Canada Fish Farm SCUBA Tuna holding pond, Nova Scotia, Owner charged. -
2002 8 9 Ramsey Gary USA Army Corps of Engineers S/S Air Apparent DP, Dam 52 on the Ohio river, . Died after being trapped inside a temporary dam for nearly 50 minutes while caulking cracks near a water intake valve, (may have been surfaced rapidly and suffered embolism) Recovered with no pulse. Lexington Herald Leader -
2002 8 9 Rig 'Ocean King' USA Jack Up, drilling at Grand Isle 93, blowout and fire. -
2001 8 10 Sempert Craig E USA SCUBA Aged 44, Owner of Craig's Dive Shop in Craig, was diving for a survey by Cape Fox Corp. Apparently got trapped in the outflow pipe from the power station pond south of Ketchikan, his body was recovered from the outflow pipe after his wife reported Friday afternoon that he hadn't come back from the dive. Inference is solo dive on SCUBA. Reported in Kenai Peninsula on-line -
2000 8 13 Smith Warren C USA 21 SCUBA Fire-fighter, aged 28, Search and rescue training dive in a lake. Circular search, partner lost the rope and became separated, basic SCUBA gear only, no voice comms, Another diver saw the victim who was distressed and frantically screaming, the victim knocked out the other diver's face piece. The victim, who was entangled in the buoy line was pulled to the surface by the line, given medical assistance and transported to hospital by air ambulance where he was pronounced dead, The cause of death was stated as pulmonary barotrauma. NIOSH report -
1999 8 29 Shepcot Jay USA Oceaneering 296 ADS GB 161, Semi-submersible Diamond Ocean Ambassador with an air gap of approximately 100 feet. ADS (Wasp) was being recovered, a piece of lifting tackle gave away, ADS dropped to the end of a safety cable. The shock load swung the ADS up beneath the semi-sub where it hit and broke one arm off the suit before the safety cable was severed by the edge of the deck. The ADS fell into the sea and because of the missing arm flooded and sank to the pontoon. It is believed that the diver died of a broken neck which occurred at the same time the arm was broken off. Once submerged, the suit flooded. Two standby dives were made before the diver was located and brought to the surface. "This fatality is attributable to rigging failure" Offshore Diver. (USCG found that the shackle pin used in attaching the WASP to the crane was of inferior quality and not rated for lifting the weight of a WASP. NAOCD/cDiver) -
1999 8 24 Swint, Jr Elwin USA S/S Air Initially reported as ‘diver lost at sea while harvesting sea urchins off Santa Rosa island'. Body was recovered. Cause of death recorded as drowning for unknown reasons, but no details NAOCD/cDiver. However a later report gives more details:- (Paraphrased) “The son of a sea urchin diver killed when a yacht ran over his air hose is suing the boat owner. The diver, aged 53, of Santa Barbara drowned last year off Santa Rosa Island. Attorneys for his son argue that the yacht was being operated in an "unsafe manner" before the accident. The U.S. Coast Guard found that the yacht had run over the diver's air hose but the owner was not negligent and that the boat contacted authorities shortly after spotting the diver in the water. The 49-foot yacht was battered by rough seas before the accident and sought shelter next to Swint's boat while the diver was underwater, the Coast Guard report said. The diver, who was not using a diver-warning flag, surfaced and yelled as the boat approached, and the boat owner turned turned his vessel around, the report said. The boat owner has said the diver's air hose became entangled in the boat's propeller as the vessel searched for him�. Associated Press article dated July 2000. -
1999 8 9 Mercer Scott USA Titan Marine Underwater oxy arc explosion, improperly vented tank. Offshore Diver. Also reported as "Diver was killed from a build-up of gases while welding on a salvage operation. Diver had not vented for gases to escape. USCG Findings: 1) Mercer was the diving supervisor of this operation. He was diving at the time without leaving a designated individual as supervisor topside while he was in the water, directly against industry policy. Mercer was Titan’s representative on the ADC BoD and therefore should have especially known industry policy better than anyone. 2) All areas were suppose to be vented first before any welding started. However, there was no records kept and consequently, Mercer begin welding in one of those areas that had not yet been vented. NAOCD/cDiver -
1999 8 6 Hill Chris UK Stolt Comex Seaway 117 Saturation British, aged 42, Buchan template, DSV "Discovery", oxy arc explosion. HSE prosecution, fined £60,000. (See IMCA SF 07/01). -
1998 8 19 Paterson Kenny UK Fathoms Ltd. 61 SCUBA Paraphrased from press reports:- “Diver sacrificed his life to save a colleague as he continued his 15-year quest for the wreck of the Finnish freighter ‘Joanna Thorden’. The freighter sank at the notorious Pentland Skerries in the Pentland Firth during a storm in 1937, reputedly carrying copper ingots (and possibly even silver bullion). Gary Connor, a director of Wick-based Fathoms Ltd, was diving with Kenny Paterson, aged 34, on August nineteenth 1998. As they searched at a depth of 200ft (nearly 40ft more than the legal limit for commercial scuba divers), Kenny Paterson suffered symptoms of the bends and Gary brought him to the surface. Gary also suffered the bends but after treatment contracted septicemia and died in hospital in April this year. The sheriff returned a formal verdict on the medical cause of death and noted Fathoms staff originally told the Health and Safety Executive it was a recreational dive and outwith their scope of inquiry�. Reported in the Scottish Daily Record & Sunday. The FAI notes that Gary Connor died at Caithness General Hospital on the April first 2000, 20 months after the accident (cerebral anoxia, spinal bend, quadaplegia leading to tetraparesis and septicaemia), that SCUBA equipment was not appropriate for the diving operation, that the HSE was falsely induced into believing it was a sports dive and therefore there was no prompt investigation. He also noted that the actions of the deceased achieved the ultimately successful rescue of his colleague. -
1998 8 13 Nicolson Constable David Canada Police SCUBA Police diver searching dam for missing 12 year old boy was sucked into same sluice. On a life line but it broke (along with his regulator) when pulled by the surface crew. Drowned. Ontario Ministry of Labour investigator concluded the diver would not have drowned had the dive been conducted according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its diving regulations and recommended charges be laid against Waterloo regional police for several offences under the act, including failing to properly plan, equip and supervise a dive of that type, but the ministry chose not to lay charges because there was not a reasonable prospect of securing a conviction (his investigation identified safe-diving practices that were not followed that night including lack of identifying and controlling the hazardous sluice, failing to use a supply of air from the surface for a dive near a dam, and limited training in doing dives near dams. Several officers argued that police dive teams should be exempt from diving regulations when they are doing an emergency rescue. Investigators argued that the rules do not distinguish between emergency dives and commercial dives because "the hazards facing divers is the same no matter what their purpose." Police officer in charge of operation said that if it had been a missing adult, the search would probably not have gone ahead at that time, 'but with a child.........' -
1998 8 11 Cranfield Walter Guam Deep Sea Technologies SCUBA Paraphrased from OSHA reports:- “San Franciso. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined a diving contractor $75,000 following the death of a diver who died from decompression sickness while working on a project to salvage artifacts from a Manila galleon which sank off the coast of Guam in 1690. After a six month investigation, OSHA cited Deep Sea Technologies, a subcontractor of The Pilar Project Ltd., for willful violations which led to the death, including failure to use two-way voice communication between a mixed-gas diver and surface crew; having no decompression chamber ready for use at the dive site; requiring employees using SCUBA equipment to dive deeper than 130 feet in sea water; exceeding the allowable service pressure on the compressed gas cylinders used by SCUBA divers, and lack of tables at the dive site which outline safe diving depths and durations. The violations are covered under OSHA's Commercial Diving Operations regulations.� The company was also cited for one less-than-serious violation for failing to notify OSHA of the fatality within eight hours. “OSHA will not tolerate this type of situation," said the enforcement director for OSHA in the western states. "This fatality could have been prevented. The employer knew they were diving too deep for the equipment they used, that they had no two-way communication, and that the tanks were over pressurized, and yet they continued to put the divers at risk, resulting in this tragic consequence." Ha also noted that another diver on The Pilar Project died in 1994, and another required emergency evacuation in 1993 -
1997 8 0 Pickering Stephen UK SCUBA Aged 41, disappeared while salvaging cargo from a wreck off the Dorset Coast. His remains were recovered by a Dutch trawler in 2009, he was cremated in May of 2010 and his ashes laid to rest in the North Sea. Inquest held in September 2010 was told that a combination of heavy equipment and distress contributed to the death of the experienced diver on a salvage expedition on a sunken First World War ship carrying precious metals off the Dorset coast 13 years previously. “He was diving with new, heavier gas cylinders and ignored advice from fellow divers to ditch his weight belt before entering the water to make him lighter, the inquest heard. According to one colleague, Mr Pickering preferred to dive while weighed down heavily to enable him to work better in the depths of the sea. One of the four-strong team on the salvage vessel Marja said Mr Pickering appeared distressed after losing his mask when he jumped into the sea. After returning to the surface, they threw him a replacement, but despite falling a short distance from Mr Pickering, he made no attempt to grab it. They then threw a piece of rope into the water in the hope that he would reach for it. "He tried to grab for it and that's the last I saw of him." The pathologist said a cause of death could not be determined. "This would appear to be a combination of the loss of the dive mask coupled with the excess weight, which would have ended up with someone who has a degree of hypoxia through over exertion which has precipitated his collapse under the water." Dorset Police found nothing suspicious about the circumstances of the death: “The statements from the men, plus the disclosure of the new, heavier cylinders and the buoyancy problems Mr Pickering experienced, led to the conclusion that his death was an accident. Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said: "I am satisfied with the accounts given by the experienced divers. "I will, on the evidence I have heard, rule out any suspicious circumstances." Yorkshire Post -
1996 8 10 Carey Gary A UK Subsea Offshore 100 Saturation British, aged 38. DSV "Discovery", Ness subsea manifold. Crushed by wellhead blown off base by locked in pressure Mobil/Cooper Cameron were fined £175,000 and £45,000 respectively. -
1995 8 1 Rig 'Ocean Developer' Angola Semi Submersible, sank during towing -
1993 8 21 Not Recorded USA SCUBA Aged 21, off Maine, commercial diver/fisherman repairing vessel, skiff drifted away, diver drowned after attempting to swim after drifting boat -
1993 8 19 Costain Donald R USA SCUBA Aged 52, off Maine diving in a four man team from a 36' fishing vessel, harvesting sea urchins, heavy fog, surfaced for replacement tank, disappeared, found on the seabed after 30 minutes, drowned. Bangor Daily News. -
1992 8 17 Not Recorded USA 3 Cleaning barnacles from the hull of the yacht 'Wutnext', natural causes, heart attack. No details. Reported in the South Florida Sun Sentinel -
1992 8 7 Rig 'Marlin 3' USA Rig Disaster Jack Up, Hurricane damage -
1991 8 15 Barringer Leonard South China Sea McDermott British, Electrician, drowned when the McDermott DB 29 got caught in typhoon 'Fred' in the South China Sea, POB 195, 22 fatalities. Has been erroneously reported by some sources as one of the divers in saturation. -
1991 8 15 Dennison Terence South China Sea McDermott 18 Saturation British, aged 46, one of four divers in saturation who died when the McDermott DB 29 got caught in typhoon 'Fred' and sank in the South China Sea, POB 195, 22 fatalities. Diver's HRV was the bell, but the barge developed a list and the bell could not be mated to the TUP. Saturation system had been decompressed to around 60' before the barge capsized and sank. As the barge, upside down, sank, the pressure equalised with the TUP, the door was opened and three divers (Steve Hardy, John Lyons and Terry Dennison) swam for the surface but drowned (dragged down by the suction of the barge sinking?). Their bodies were recovered from the sea. Autopsy revealed no signs of decompression illness indicating that although decompression had been accelerated, the high ppO2 had been effective. Cause of death was salt water drowning. The body of Brian Shepherd was recovered from the flooded dive system (still complete, intact and attached to the upturned hull of the barge) by saturation divers some two months later. He was located still wrapped in a hammock slung in what would have been a gas bubble in the capsized system Autopsy revealed leg injuries leading to speculation that he was injured when the barge capsized, was unable to make the escape attempt with the other three divers. The barge was never salvaged and still lies upside down under the South China Sea. Telegraph and Argus plus Personal Communication. -
1991 8 15 Hardy Steve South China Sea McDermott 18 Saturation British, aged 33, one of four divers who died when the McDermott DB 29 got caught in typhoon 'Fred' in the South China Sea, POB 195, 22 fatalities. Diver's HRV was the bell, but the barge developed a list and the bell could not be mated to the TUP. Saturation system had been decompressed to around 60' before the barge capsized and sank. As the barge, upside down, sank, the pressure equalised with the TUP, the door was opened and three divers (Steve Hardy, John Lyons and Terry Dennison) swam for the surface but drowned (dragged down by the suction of the barge sinking?). Their bodies were recovered from the sea. Autopsy revealed no signs of decompression illness indicating that although decompression had been accelerated, the high ppO2 had been effective. Cause of death was salt water drowning. The body of Brian Shepherd was recovered from the flooded dive system (still complete, intact and attached to the upturned hull of the barge) by saturation divers some two months later. He was located still wrapped in a hammock slung in what would have been a gas bubble in the capsized system. Autopsy revealed leg injuries leading to speculation that he was injured when the barge capsized, was unable to make the escape attempt with the other three divers. The barge was never salvaged and still lies upside down under the South China Sea. Telegraph and Argus plus Personal Communication. -
1991 8 15 Lyons John South China Sea McDermott 18 Saturation New Zealander, one of four divers who died when the McDermott DB 29 got caught in typhoon 'Fred' in the South China Sea, POB 195, 22 fatalities. Diver's HRV was the bell, but the barge developed a list and the bell could not be mated to the TUP. Saturation system had been decompressed to around 60' before the barge capsized and sank. As the barge, upside down, sank, the pressure equalised with the TUP, the door was opened and three divers (Steve Hardy, John Lyons and Terry Dennison) swam for the surface but drowned (dragged down by the suction of the barge sinking?). Their bodies were recovered from the sea. Autopsy revealed no signs of decompression illness indicating that although decompression had been accelerated, the high ppO2 had been effective. Cause of death was salt weater drowning. The body of Brian Shepherd was recovered from the flooded dive system (still complete, intact and attached to the upturned hull of the barge) by saturation divers some two months later. He was located still wrapped in a hammock slung in what would have been a gas bubble in the capsized system. Autopsy revealed leg injuries leading to speculation that he was injured when the barge capsized, was unable to make the escape attempt with the other three divers. Cause of death was asphyxiation. The barge was never salvaged and still lies upside down under the South China Sea. A letter to his wife and children was found in John Lyon's diving under-suit (“He left a very personal love letter. It's a goodbye letter. John knew he was going to die and wrote to me and the children� His wife Sue, speaking after the event). Telegraph and Argus plus Personal Communication. -
1991 8 15 Rig 'DB 29' South China Sea McDermott Vessel sunk McDermott DB 29, sank when caught in typhoon 'Fred' in the South China Sea, POB 195, Total 22 fatalities, dive team in sat, 4 divers died. Reported that McDermott changed their policy after this incident and have always used mobilised an HRC with every system. -
1991 8 15 Shepherd Brian South China Sea McDermott 60 Saturation British, aged 44, one of four divers who died when the McDermott DB 29 got caught in typhoon 'Fred' in the South China Sea, POB 195, 22 fatalities. Diver's HRV was the bell, but the barge developed a list and the bell could not be mated to the TUP. Saturation system had been decompressed to around 60' before the barge capsized and sank. As the barge, upside down, sank, the pressure equalised with the TUP, the door was opened and three divers (Steve Hardy, John Lyons and Terry Dennison) swam for the surface but drowned (dragged down by the suction of the barge sinking?). Their bodies were recovered from the sea. Autopsy revealed no signs of decompression illness indicating that although decompression had been accelerated, the high ppO2 had been effective. Cause of death was salt water drowning. The body of Brian Shepherd was recovered from the flooded dive system (still complete, intact and attached to the upturned hull of the barge) by saturation divers some two months later. He was located still wrapped in a hammock slung in what would have been a gas bubble in the capsized system. Autopsy revealed leg injuries leading to speculation that he was injured when the barge capsized and was unable to make the escape attempt with the other three divers. Cause of death – asphyxiation. The barge was never salvaged and still lies upside down under the South China Sea. Telegraph and Argus plus Personal Communication. -
1990 8 31 Mortimer Michael USA SCUBA Aged 31, Lake Worth fire fighter, recreational dive for lobster off Juno Beach in the notorious 'mini-season'. Died due to air in this cylinder being contaminated carbon monoxide. Reported in the Miami Herald. Later, it was reported in the Sun Sentinel that “Attorney Tracy R. Sharpe, who represents the victim's widow, said he thought the carbon monoxide got into the tank when [Michael R. Mortimer] filled it with oxygen from a larger oxygen tank that National Weldco of Miami had delivered to his home� (Doubtful it was oxygen for a sports lobster dive, probably decanting air, but still no explanation of where the CO came from, TC) -
1990 8 20 Rig 'West Gamma' Germany Accommodation jack-up, ran into a gale (with waves up 12 meters and winds gusting 60 knots) as it was being towed by the Normand Drott from the Norwegian sector to the German sector. The rig first lost its helideck to a large wave, then lost its tow with the Normand Drott during the storm, causing the rig to drift towards the German coast. As night fell, one of the deck lifeboats broke loose, damaging vent pipes and access hatches and causing down-flooding in the rig's hull. By 0100 hours, the rig had assumed a 10 degree list. By 0200 on 21 August, conditions deteriorated to the point where it became necessary to evacuate the crew. Evacuation by helicopter was not possible due to the damage sustained to the helideck and helicopter winching was not possible due to the high winds. The excessive movement as the rig pitched and rolled in the heavy seas also made it all but impossible to launch the lifeboats. Fortunately for the rig's crew, two Danish ESVAGT standby/rescue vessels (the Omega and the Protector) were despatched from the Danish sector to aid the evacuation. Members of the rig's crew tied themselves together in groups of 5 or 6 and jumped into the sea from the first level of the accommodation as a rescue helicopter's searchlight illuminated the scene. Four fast rescue craft belonging to the ESVAGT vessels formed a horseshoe downwind of the rig then picked up the crew. At 0307 hours on 21 August 1990, the rig sank off the coast of Helgoland, Germany, in 44m of water, with the highest point of the rig only 10m below sea level at low tide. As German authorities decided in 1993 to use this area as an emergency anchorage area, the underwater obstruction created by the West Gamma had first to be cleared. In 1994, the rig was demolished in stages. The legs were first cut then blown free of the rig with explosives. Using an underwater hydraulic jackhammer, the West Gamma's hull was then crushed until the highest point was 25m below low tide sea level. Bad weather, loss of the towline, structural failure and flooding all contributed to the eventual sinking of the West Gamma. The captain of the Normand Drott said after the event that the risk to the rig crew would have been lessened if "the UK practice of using two tugs and an auxiliary vessel had been used". ESVAGT -
1989 8 28 Foley David UK Topsides Aged 24, RN Submarine Base, Coulport/Faslane, Civilian diver, in a hut on a barge, preparing to dive, killed when a crane jib fell onto the hut. A fellow diver was seriously injured in the same incident. During the inquest, the court heard that a steel rope snapped, causing the steel jib to fall and crush a cabin on an off-shore barge where Mr Foley was changing into his wet suit. Mr Foley was killed instantly and another diver was injured. A pulley on the crane split and steel guide guards were later found to have been cut. Glasgow Herald -
1989 8 28 Not Recorded UK Topsides Seriously injured at the RN Submarine Base Faslane, Civilian diver, in a hut on a barge, preparing to dive, his team-mate David Foley was killed when a crane jib fell onto the hut. During the inquest, the court heard that a steel rope snapped, causing the steel jib to fall and crush a cabin on an off-shore barge where Mr Foley was changing into his wet suit. Mr Foley was killed instantly and another diver was injured. A pulley on the crane split and steel guide guards were later found to have been cut. Glasgow Herald -
1989 8 11 Carter Mike USA 4 SCUBA Aged 34, described as an experienced diver, drowned whilst replacing a pond drainage system on a farm three miles north of the town of Marion, 'not entangled or trapped, plenty of air in his tank. Investigators stated that “He might have been tired from work done on the previous day and plan no autopsy or further investigations� -
1989 8 9 Ong Swee Kheng Singapore Commercial Diving Servces Aged 33, clearing debris from a coffer dam at the Senoko Power Station, pulled out of the water when he failed to respond to tugs on his lifeline. "Might have got entangled in a net used to sift the debris". No other details. Straits Times -
1987 8 12 Not Recorded Saudi Arabia Navy The official Saudi Press agency meanwhile reported that a Saudi Navy frogman was killed and a second wounded when they got too close to a mine being detonated after it was pulled from the Persian Gulf.It said the accident occurred in water 180 miles to the Northwest of Ras Tanura". The Telegraph. -
1984 8 19 Siver Ronald J USA Police 23 SCUBA American police diver, Rochester, New York. Attempting to find the body of a man who died in a boating accident, suffered unknown problems, drowned -
1984 8 16 Dawson Mark UK Oceaneering 43 S/S Air British, aged 22. DSV "Deurloo", Southern North Sea, Leman Field, using a drill, rope entangled in rotating drill, pulled off his KM 18 band mask, drowned -
1983 8 18 LaFollette Ricky A USA Police 30 SCUBA American police diver aged 30, Louisville, Kentucky, experienced, night training exercise using new communication equipment, did not respond to calls, believed to have become disorientated in the dark and descended rather than ascended, drowned. -
1981 8 27 Rig 'Petromar V' Thailand Drillship, sank after a blowout (Is this a duplicate rport for the "Petromadrill Norhsea" (sank mid 1980s in similar circumstances) -
1980 8 9 Rig 'Dixilyn Field 81' USA Jack Up, Sunk on location by hurricane 'Allen' -
1979 8 15 Anderson Allan Mexico Taylor Diving and Salvage 50 Saturation American, aged 32, "Ixtox I" blow-out 3rd of June, Bay of Campeche, Mexico, Drill rig "Sedco 135F" sank. Diver died during attempts to shut in the well, off the barge "LB Meaders", caught in vortex at wellhead and blown to the surface. Well finally capped 23/3/1980, second biggest oil-spill in history. Wife and two children aged 11 and 7. -
1979 8 7 Guiel Victor F "Skip" UK Infabco 162 Saturation American, aged 28. DSV "Wildrake", Thistle field, parted bell wire, secondary means of recovery failed, screwed up rescue, died from hypothermia, Double fatality (Walker) -
1979 8 7 Walker Richard A UK Infabco 162 Saturation American, aged 32. DSV "Wildrake", Thistle field, parted bell wire, secondary means of recovery failed, screwed up rescue, died from hypothermia, Double fatality (Guiel) -
1977 8 20 Sansalone D UK Subsea Oil Services 23 SCUBA Italian, aged 29. Pipelay barge "Semac I", Working on stinger, 2 working divers plus stand-by, lost comms, continued working, Inexperienced in prevailing conditions, drowned -
1976 8 20 Yore USN Thomas John "TJ" Denmark Military US Navy diver, reported as 'Lost at sea off Greenland 20th August, declared dead 30th September". No other details. Navydivers.net -
1976 8 10 Gohon Gerard North Sea Comex Topsides Caught his head between the bell and DDC during TUP, permanent paralysis. PC -
1975 8 29 Gates Robert USA Clarmac Marine Construction 4 SCUBA Aged 19, Halifax River at Ormand Beach, Emergency repairs to a 10� water main (Anchor damage) 200 yards to the North side of Granada Bridge, diving with a colleague doing final flange bolting of a new line, the other diver surfaced but moments later, at around 18:00 his bubbles ceased, divers went back in but were unable to locate him. About 20:00 divers on the barge suggested the use of grapples to search from a boat and found the body but it dropped back into the water, finally recovered a short time later, declared dead on site. Daytona Beach Morning Gazzette. -
1975 8 2 Boulay Serge Italy Comex Topsides Oilfield diving. Oxygen transfer inside a container on deck of the Glomar V, O2 leakage, possibly exacerbated by dust, flash fire. Hot weather, three crew were only wearing shorts. Died in hospital. Triple fatality (with Philipe Salvatori and Noel Shneider ). PC -
1975 8 2 Salvatori Philipe Italy Comex Topsides Oilfield diving. Oxygen transfer inside a container on deck, O2 leakage, possibly exacerbated by dust, flash fire. Hot weather, three crew were only wearing shorts. Died in hospital. Triple fatality (with Noel Shneider and Serge Boulay). PC -
1975 8 2 Schneider Noel Italy Comex Topsides Oilfield diving. Oxygen transfer inside a container on deck, O2 leakage, possibly exacerbated by dust, flash fire. Hot weather, three crew were only wearing shorts. Died in hospital. Triple fatality (with Philipe Salvatori and Serge Boulay). PC -
1975 8 0 Lee David "Tansy" Egypt Solus Schall 78 SCUBA British, ex RN clearance diver. Platform and pipeline inspection programme for AMOCO/GUPCO in the Gulf of Suez. Dive team increased when 'Beaver IV' (Diver lock out submarine) failed to perform. Diving in pairs on SCUBA with mixed gas to 255 feet on the Morgan 55 platform, diver appeared to let go of structure and drifted away. Body never recovered. Fatality thought to have occurred around the month of August. NB. The bad weather/wind period in the Gulf of Suez is from June to September, lump sum contract thought to have lost millions due to 'unexpected poor weather' as contract was bid expecting European style good summer weather. PC -
1974 8 27 Kelly Peter Norway Northern Divers 91 Saturation British, aged 27. Got a slug of pure Helium on descent, wearing a full face mask, collapsed and died, bell partner (Danny Stockes) wearing a half mask which dislodged, survived. -
1974 8 27 Stockes Danny Norway Northern Divers 91 Saturation Ex Royal Marine Commando, got a slug of pure Helium on descent, knocked off half mask as he collapsed and survived, bell partner Peter Kelly, wearing a full face mask, died. -
1974 8 23 Tay Chwee Kiat Singapore Diver on a fishing vessel dived to retrieve the vessel's anchor at about 3 pm. Having freed it and surfaced he complained of stomach pains and at about 8 pm on the same day, died. Straits Times -
1974 8 18 Gumblowski Ray USA 40 Aged 42, (Shell) oil survey dive from the boat 'Robert R ' 48 miles offshore out of Bayboro Harbour, surfaced, but collapsed on deck, put in DDC but stopped breathing. Alternative report says entered DDC normally to undergo surface decompression but after 10 minutes had breathing difficulties. A second diver (Charles Hinson) was locked in to assist, but was unable to restart his breathing. Body was removed from chamber after diving specialist doctor flown out from panama city pronounced him dead. Autopsy results not reported at the time. The Evening Independent. -
1973 8 28 Havlena Paul J UK Taylor Diving 98 Saturation American, aged 29. Barge "LB Meaders", "Push pull" gas system, Supply closed off while suction open, embolism, pulmonary haemorrhage -
1972 8 25 Fleming James P USA 85 Aged 25, working to salvage a 40' cement commercial fishing vessel - the 'Ferro Queen '- that sank on May 27th in 280' of water off Newburyport, reported as 'bends', unconscious in the water, brought to the surface by a fellow diver, taken ashore to Seabrook Beach in New Hampshire and transferred by ambulance to a recompression chamber at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, pronounced dead by a doctor 30 minutes after he entered the chamber. The Nashua Telegraph. -
1972 8 10 Holland Robert USA Healy Tibbitts 11 Described as a “professional hard hat diver�, was one of a three man team working off a barge in Hilo Harbour. On Hawaii at the time of his death in a diving accident. Subject of a court case Holland v. Healy Tibbitts Const. Co., 379 F.Supp. 192 (D. Hawaii, Jul 24, 1974). No details. Loislaw.com -
1971 8 18 Koh John Kay Lim Singapore Straits Diving Singaporean aged 33, diving to clean a water suction tube at the Jurong power station. Dive team "found Koh stuck to the wire netted entrance of the tube limp and lifeless". Verdict was drowning by misadventure. Straits Times -
1970 8 16 Sims W. D. USA Aged 44, Rescue diver looking for the body of 16 year old sports diver Fred Schmitz (Apparently blacked out and then disapeared into the depths) who was diving with 31 year old Hal Watts (Who suffered a DCI and was treated in a DDC for 5 hours at Cape Kennedy during the SAR operation), both were members of the Orlando Otters SCUBA Club diving in a 400' deep sinkhole looking for equipment lost on earlier dives. Speculated that the rescue diver, Sims, suffered from nitrogen narcosis, got entangled in safety ropes, ran out of air and drowned. Rescue operations were then called off pending the use of deep diving equipment. Unclear if this was a 'professional' or amateur rescue attempt. St. Petersberg Times -
1968 8 0 Rig 'Little Bob' USA Coral Drilling Rig Disaster Jack Up, drilling off Louisiana, fire. -
1967 8 18 Not Recorded USA Military Two experienced divers died of bends on Naval mission during a deep sea diving operation. The divers died after being put into a decompressiuon chamber onboard the 'Skylark" (ASR-20, a Penguin class submarine rescue vessel, launched 1946, decommissioned and sold to Brazil in 1973). The precise location of the vessel was not revealed by the Navy. New York Times -
1967 8 10 Hales Jeffrey Thomas Australia Military Clearance diver, night training exercise off Jervis Bay. Both he and his dive partner (Kenneth Hislop) died. Controversy at the inquest over autopsy report of alcohol in their bodies (Could have formed naturally), but no details of the accident. Reported in 'The Age'. -
1967 8 10 Hislop Kenneth John Australia Military Clearance diver, night training exercise off Jervis Bay. Both he and his dive partner (Jeffrey Hales) died. Controversy at the inquest over autopsy report of alcohol in their bodies (Could have formed naturally), but no details of the accident. Reported in 'The Age'. -
1959 8 21 Mathews Raymond USA Commercial Abalone diver off the vessel 'Ray Rock' off Point Loma, presumed drowned after being found on the seabed with his mask off. Second diver (Hart) treated for DCI aboard the Submarine tender USS 'Nereus'. Lodi News sentinel -
1958 8 23 Sambo Kallu Australia S/S Air Torres Strait Islander, diving off the Native Affairs Department lugger 'Macoy' died on 'death Reef, off Darnley Island. 120 miles north-west of Thursday Island. Described as the fifth diver fatality off Darnley Island that year, all fatalities put down to 'diver's paralysis'. Reported in The Age -
1956 8 23 Yanase Masumi Australia Topsides “Japanese Diver Found Dead� BROOME (WA), Wednesday. — A young Japanese pearl diver, Masumi Yanase. 23, was found dead in the water alongside his boat today. He had noosed a rope around his neck which was made fast to the lugger's diving platform. It is thought Masumi Yanase jumped overboard and accidentally strangled himself. He had been in Broome for the past year and was considered an efficient diver�. Reported in The Canberra Times. -
1956 8 13 Lund Captain Ove Norway Military Aged 32, Norwegian Navy diver, died in Horten harbour, Oslo. 'in the line of duty' though the authorities branded reports that he died diving under the hulls of visiting soviet fleet vessels as "Sheer madness". His death was announced shortly after the departure of a Russian cruiser and two destroyers. The announcement co-incided with reports that an unidentified submarine was follwing the Russian flotilla. Pittsburgh Press -
1956 8 10 Sedco No 8 / Rig 22 USA Jack Up, sank during cnstruction, 4 fatalities -
1956 8 1 Edgerton Wiliam USA 4 Rebreather Aged 23, part of a 20 man, privately funded, team that had chartered the 60' diving tender 'Capt Samuel Jameson' engaged to take photographs of the sunken liner 'Andrea Doria' which lies about 45 miles south. He was undertaking a training dive in Nantucket harbour. Dr Christian Lambertson, the team physician who had developed a type of mixed gas diving kit for the US Navy, and who was diving with Edgerton at the time of his death ("diving in about 12 feet of water tp familiarise Edgerton with the type of 'mixed gas' cylinders that Lambertson had developed for Navy divers"), said that a valve on his diving equipment had somehow become partially closed ("Edgerton may have accidently struck the valve against the side of the boat or become confused and closed it himself"). Died from "Lack of oxygen in the blood". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. -
1955 8 11 Not Recorded Germany “Wilhelmshaven. An Underwater explosion today killed a diver working on the wreck of the submerged German cruiser Koln in the harbour here� Reuters -
1953 8 22 Jacob Abou Australia S/S Air “Whale Snaps Diver's Line�. PERTH, Monday. – “A whale became tangled in the lifeline of a Malay diver as he was working off 90 Mile Beach on Saturday. The line was broken and carried away by the whale but the diver, Abou Jacob, was brought to the surface on his airpipe. He was taken to Broome Hospital suffering from shock and some injuries but was later discharged, it is expected that he will resume work in about a week. Jacob is employed by Mr. L. Placanica, of Broome�. Reported in The Mercury, Hobart -
1952 8 1 Malone Hilary Australia DIVER FREES ‘MALOJA'S’ PROPELLER. The services of a diver were required at Fremantle yesterday before the liner ‘Maloja’ could sail for the Eastern States. Her port propeller blade was fouled by a steel towline from the tug ‘Uco’ when she berthed from London in the morning. The ‘Uco’ was immobilised to prevent further tangling, and the ‘Maloja’ - which had more than 1,000 passengers on board - berthed with the aid of two other tugs. Summoned from Garden Island, a Fremantle diver, Mr. Hilary Malone, went down from the vessel ‘Agnes’ at about 5.15 p.m., and using a special underwater oxy-acetylene torch had the blade cleared by about 6 o'clock. The liner sailed at 7.45 p.m. two hours late. Reported in The West Australian, Perth -
1951 8 24 Saunders John Alfred India Aged 25, Described as "Born in Bombay, a deep sea diver who died in an accident whilst working for the Bombay Port Trust. No details. -
1950 8 31 Not Recorded France "Diver Blown up in Launch Explosion. A diver was blown to pieces at St. Nazaire yesterda when the …" Report dated 1st September 1950. No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Western Morning News/The British Newspaper Archive -
1949 8 26 Rasmussen Hans Kristian Krogh Denmark Military Aged 45, Danish Navy diver (First grade Torpedo quarter-master) reported as having died in a diving accident in Aarhus Bay. Reported in navalhistory.dk -
1949 8 18 Kada William Australia 15 Indonesian Pearl diver aged 37, diving off the lugger Twixteen out of Thursday Island. Signalled to be brought to the surface but as he reached the surface his helmet and corselet came detached and he was swept away. His body was recovered by divers from another lugger later. Barrier Miner, NSW, Australia Another report states:- Pearl Diver Drowns. Thursday Island.-Two Indonesians tried pluckily to rescue a fellow pearl diver when he was swept away in heavy seas while diving off Thursday Island. Sgt. H. Mumford, of the Thursday Island police, returned with the story. The diver, William Kada, 37, who was also an Indonesian, was found drowned in eight fathoms of water at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The Indonesians went out from Thursday Island on the lugger ‘Trixteen’. Kada was down pearling about eight fathoms at 11.30 a.m. when he signalled to be brought to the surface. When he reached the surface his diving helmet and corselet broke loose. He called to the men on the lugger as he was swirled away. Two other divers, Enus Euan, 22, and Markus Oben, 42, went to Kada's rescue, but were unable to reach him in the heavy seas. A Torres Strait aboriginal from another lugger which arrived later recovered Kada's body. Reported in the Barrier Miner -
1949 8 12 Not Recorded "Diver killed by wreck blast.."No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Aberdeen Journal/The British Newspaper Archive -
1948 8 28 Ballard Petty Officer W. UK Military 163 "Diver Descends 535 Feet". LONDON, August 28. "Petty Officer W. Ballard descended 535 feet from a submarine rescue ship into Loch Fyne, Argyllshire, and set up a new world record dive, which an American held at 440 feet. Ballard wore a specially adapted diving suit. His object was to enable naval technicians to perfect a diving suit in which rescuers can work at crash-dive depth of submarines". Reported in The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, Qld. Curiously, this record was also reported on the 10th of March 1950 in the Horsham Times (Victoria) with a photograph of Bollard being congratulated by fellow Royal Navy diver W. Soper who had also broken the previous record with a dive to a depth of 454 feet. -
1948 8 1 Djawa Willem Australia 50 S/S Air "Diver's Death". Darwin - "Carrying the body of the third pearl diver to have died on this coast in eight days, the lugger 'Plover' berthed here. The diver, Willem Djawa, 28, died after four 45 minute dives to 28 fathoms of water off Melville Island. He complained of headaches after the last dive. He was weraring a full suit" The Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW. DIVER LOSES GRIM BATTLE - DARWIN, Aug. 4: Fighting a losing battle for life a Koepang diver was suspended, staging, for several hours in his diving suit nine fathoms below the pearling lugger ‘Plover’ riding on the blue seas near Bathurst Island. The story of his fight was told in the Coroner's Court here today by Yussif Bin Hassim, No. I diver on the ‘Plover’. The inquest concerned the death of the second diver of the ‘Plover’, Willem Djawa (28), who died on her deck last Thursday. Hassim told the Coroner (Mr. C. K. Ward) that he was diving in 28 fathoms of water, the deepest he had ever been in. He could see Djawa in the clear water nearby on the sea floor. Djawa had never been below 12 fathoms before. Three times they went down together and stayed down each time, about 45 minutes. After the last dive Djawa complained of a "sore head." To counteract the effects of deep diving, Djawa and Hassim were "staged" nine fathoms below the lugger. "I watched Djawa hanging there for 41 hours," said Hassim. Two men pulled them up and Djawa, still sick, was lowered again in an attempt to fight off the effects of submersion. For another 2 hours he hung there while the lugger plant pumped down air. Pulled on to the deck again, Djawa said: "No more." The crew closed him up in his suit again and pumped air into the suit, but he died and the ‘Plover’ headed back, to Darwin. The Coroner found that no blame was attachable to anybody. Reported in the West Australian. Perth. -
1946 8 26 Carlson Andrew Anthony USA S/S Air Aged 27, sponge diver out of Tarpon springs diving off the 40' boat 'Kaliopi' North West of Big Banks. Began working as a diver in 1942, joined the army in 1944, worked on the clearance operations of the river Passig in Manila, left the army in March 1946 and moved to Dunedin with his wife and three year old son. Air hose severed by boat's propeller. St Petersburg Times -
1945 8 7 Zetterstrom Arne Sweden Navy 160 S/S Mixed Gas SWEDISH DIVER KILLED ATTEMPTING RECORD DESCENT. London, August 8 (AAP) – “Arne Zetterstrom (27), a Swedish navy diver, holder of the deep sea record of 364 feet, was suffocated when ascending from a dive in which he attempted to set a new record of 525 feet. Zetterstrom made his record last December, breathing a mixture of air and hydrogen, largely eliminating the narotic effect of nitrogen�. Reported in the Cairns Post, Qld. Arne Zetterström (1917 – 7 August 1945), researcher into the breathing mixture hydrox for the Swedish Navy. Zetterström first described the use of hydrogen as a breathing gas in 1943. From 1943 to 1944, a total of six ocean dives were made utilizing this mixture with the deepest to 160 meters (96% hydrogen and 4% oxygen). On 7 August 1945, Zetterström experienced technical problems diving from the HMS Belos. His support divers misread his signals and this was followed by a rapid ascent that resulted in severe decompression sickness and hypoxia. -
1944 8 25 Johnson John Paul Australia Topsides BROKE HIS NECK IN 5 FT. FALL. John Paul Johnson, 63, married, of Ferguson Road, Norman Park, a diver, was killed in a 5ft. fall at Borthwick's Meatworks Wharf, Queensport, Brisbane, yesterday. He struck some rocks when he fell, fractured his neck, and received a laceration on the head. He died instantly. Johnson, who was engaged in general repair work at the wharf, started work bracing the wharf planking at 7.30 a.m. yesterday, and was seen at 7.45 walking along a thrust pile. Reported in the Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Qld. -
1942 8 13 Freeman Lt. James Stewart USA Military S/S Air Helmet came off and he drowned, no details, Chicago Tribune -
1942 8 0 Not Recorded UK Military Submarine RN Base HHZ on Loch Cairnbawn, a British Navy diver died during training with the Mark I Chariot. No details. Wikipedia and other sources -
1941 8 26 Grieve David UK S/S Air "Inspector gives life for diver. Two dead in docks mishap. Two lives were lost in a diving accident at the docks yesterday. Victims were David Grieve (aged 31)..." "Died trying to save trapped diver. Detective inspector W. Stewart of Methil, Fifeshire, gave up his life in a vain bid to save…" or "Cupar dver honoured in recognition of his gallantry in repeated attempts to save a fellow diver from drowning in methil docks. John....." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Western daily Press/The British Newspaper Archive -
1940 8 11 Loy Wong Australia S/S Air Evidence given in Broome at the inquest into the death of a diver who died at sea 120 miles South of Broome. "What was believed to be a form of divers paralysis is really collapse caused by depletion of the natural salts of the body as a result of excesive perspiration while working at depth. The diver, after having complained of dizziness, was treated for what is known locally as 'half-caste paralysis'. The medical officer said that during the past 40 years many divers must have died from this complaint going on to explain that the symptoms were so similar those of actual diver's paralysis that the divers could not tell the difference with any ecrtainty". As a result of the evidence at this inquest, it is now thought that if divers drank salt liquid before the day's work, this would considerably assist in replacing the body chlorines and prevent collapse which are the symptoms usually preceeding death in these cases. Straits Times -
1939 8 27 Anderson Carl USA Topsides Diver, from Staten island, diver for a marine construction Company was drowned in an accident when he came up but water poured over him after he took his helmet off. New York Times -
1939 8 23 Purdue, RN PO Henry Otho UK Military 45 S/S Air Aged 33, Reported as 'dying of the bends' during the salvage of the "Thetis" (Sank during sea trials in Liverpool Bay on the 1st June 1939 with the loss of 99 personnel). Because of the war, at the time, the entire tragedy was largely hidden from the public.Left surface at 06:33, On bottom 06:35 (At the stern to examine the propeller), returned to surface at 07:15, put into chamber for surface decompression. Surfacing had bbeen delayed by around 5 minutes when was fouled on a grapnel on his downline. Reported that he was unconscious when in the decompression chamber. The medics further reported that his lungs wrre congested (Diseased) and this had prevented him decompressing properly, cause of death listed as Asphyxia due to lack of oxygen during decompression owing to the diseased condition of the lungs. Thetis Families Association, navy archives, Glasgow Herald -
1938 8 24 Jotana Koheharu Australia Bowden Pearling Company 73 S/S Air 30 year old Japanese diver diving from the lugger Zamia for shell off Darnley Island in the Torres straits wearing only a helmet and corselet in 40 fathoms. His lifeline went limp and then he floated to the surface without helmet or corselet, recovered by dinghy, put back in his helmet and taken to 15 fathoms before being staged to the surface but failed to revive. "The opinion is expressed that Jotana may have been overcome by sickness during staging and was unable to keep a firm grasp of the lifeline which was the only secure means of remaining in the helmet and corselet. The cause of death was certified by the Government Medical Officer at Thursday Island to be diver's paralysis and asphyxia by drowning". Reported in The Western Australian, Perth. -
1938 8 18 Jackson Roy Australia S/S Air “Diver Recovering� MELBOURNE, Thursday. ‘Diver Roy Jackson (30), of Williamstown, who had a remarkable escape from death when he was trapped in the hold of the sunken ‘Kakariki’ |(Five people died when the steel steamer Kakariki collided with another steamer, the Caradale, off Williamstown at 11pm on January 29, 1937. The Kakariki sank within minutes and later salvage operations were hampered by the vessel being stuck in four metres of mud) yesterday afternoon, is recovering in Williamstown Hospital. Jackson was semi-conscious and suffering from the effects of paralysis when he was dragged to the surface. He will remain in hospital until early next week. Reported in The Advocate, Burnie, Tas -
1937 8 19 Sakai Australia “A Whale caused the death of pearl diver who was working underwater some 90 miles south of Broome says Reuters, from Perth, Western Australia. Sakai, head diver...� No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Aberdeen Journal/The British Newspaper Archive. Is this a duplicate/alternative report of the death reported August 1937 from a shark attack? -
1937 8 0 Not Recorded Australia 64 S/S Air Pearling lugger out of Darwin, diving to 35 fathoms of Elcho Island, had been down 20 minutes when there was a vigorous tug on the lines they floated to the surface, no sign of diver, helmet boots etc. . Reported that a few fragments of clothing were seem floating on the surface the day after. Presumed to be an attack of “a 'white death' shark. Same article refers to this being the 7th diver fatality in the previous few weeks with the other fatalities being put down to 'diver's paralysis'. The Milwaukee Journal. This a duplicate/later report of the death of a Jaopanese diver in early May. -
1936 8 5 Not Recorded Australia 40 S/S Air "Two Japanese Divers Drown When Boat Drifts" Two divers working in only helmets, corselets and flannels signalled to the tenders to slacken the air pipe to enable them to gather shell. When no further signals were received, the crew hauled up the lines the helmets came up without the divers. It is believed that the divers were following the common practice of taking off their helmets to gather shell and that the boat had drifted too far, carrying the helmets beyond the reach of the divers. The fleet spent some considerable time searching for their bodies, but without success. 5 deaths from paralysis are reported to have occurred recently among the divers of the Japanese fleet which is extimated to comprise of more than 70 boats. Reported in the Central Queensland Herald -
1935 8 13 Siegel USA Military S/S Air Chief ship fitter on USS Falcon, “Died of the bends�. No details -
1935 8 0 Not Recorded Australia 59 S/S Air Japanese pearl diver working in 35 fathoms near Echo Island, had been down 20 minutes when there was a vigorous tug on the airlines. Lines floated to surface with no sign of diver or metal helmet. "Scientists say that the only known monster capable of such an attack is a 'white death' shark which are usually about 40 feet long though there have been reports f 'white death' sharks 100 feet long". Next morning a few remnants of clothing were found floating on the surface. Diver's body and equipment never recovered. Reported in the Milwaukee Journal -
1934 8 10 Dramin Does bin Australia Hornsby 38 S/S Air “TWENTY-ONE FATHOMS DOWN. Pearl Diver's Death�. “The Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. H. Douglas) received a message from Inspector Tuohy yesterday that a Malay diver named Does Bin Dramin (30), had died at sea near Broome on Friday last. He had been working at 21 fathoms for a pearler named Hornsby. The body was brought to Broome, where an inquest will be held�. Reported in the West Australian, Perth, WA -
1934 8 0 Beebe Dr. William USA 921 ADS DEEP SEA DIVER. Dr. William Beebe, the American scientist, who has established a new record for deep sea diving in his "Bathysphere" by reaching 3,023 feet. He bettered his previous attempt by 518 feet. Reported in The Western Mail, Perth -
1932 8 28 Dahl John USA 64 S/S Air Previously the wrecking master and chief diver with the Merritt & Chapman Wrecking Company, “Noted diver dies in Norfolk, Virginia� Salvage operation off the vessel “Salvor�, cargo recovery from the wreck of the Merida (sank after a collision with the Farragut 45 miles East of Cobb Island, Virginia, with reports of treasure onboard in 1911) in approx 200' of water. Diver's death attributed to heart disease but authoriies wanted an autopsy. No other details. Reported in the Sun (Baltimore, Md.) -
1927 8 0 Not Recorded Algeria "Divers Dynamited Underwater. Paris, Sunday, A message from Algiers to the Matin reports that one diver was.." "Killed by Explosion. Paris, Friday, A message reports that one diver was.." "One diver was killed and four others seriously injured by the preature explosion of some dynamite which they were using for the ..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Aberdeen Journal/The Lanarkshire Post/The British Newspaper Archive -
1924 8 25 Laurentic UK 27 Salvage of Gold bars off the wreck of the “Laurentic�, sunk off northern Ireland (off Lough Sully) in 1917 by a German submarine “Despite the perils attending what is said to have been the greatest salvage feat on record, there was only one accident, in which a diver suffered a broken leg� -
1922 8 0 Williams UK "Diver's Accident in Tobermory Bay. While engaged in the search for sunken treasure, Mr Williams, the principlal …" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Evening Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive -
1921 8 39 De Gaetano Vincent USA Merrit and Chapman Wrecking Company S/S Air Harlem river, tangled in lines, did not respond to treatment -
1915 8 2 Carpenter Charles USA S/S Air Highland Park, Pittsburgh, working in a 51� diameter pipe connecting two reservoirs, a cable snapped and an iron gate dropped behind him. After an hour and no response to signals, a second diver investigated, found the gate shut and worked to raise it. This was achieved some 5 hours after he first entered the water. Reported that he had only died minutes before being rescued. Rescue attempt was witnessed by a large crowd, including his wife and sister. Milwaukee Sentinel. -
1915 8 2 Flannigan Harry UK Military S/S Air "Diver meets tragic death. The body was landed at the Royal Navy Hospital, Haslar, yesterday for inquest purposes of Harry Flannigan, a…"Diver suffocated by air pipe entanglement". No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Dundee Courier/The British Newspaper Archive -
1912 8 16 West Edward Canada The Great Lakes Towing Company S/S Air Married with wife and amily in Port Huraon, Michigan, one of two divers in the waters of Lake Erie, four miles southeast of Port Burwell working under the overturned wreck of a sunken scow owned by the M. J, Hogan Company (Sank in May whilst loaded with stone, under tow by the steamer 'Lakeside'). Air was being pumped into the overturned hull, the two divers 'had gone down to see how work was proceeding when the scow, estimated to weigh 150 tons rolled over on top of them. One diver was pulled out by the combined efforts of 10 men but the body of West is still at the bottom of the lake". The Evening Recors -
1910 8 26 Mathewson RN Able Seaman James Edward UK Military 20 S/S Air Diver based at HMS Vernon, diving off the Navy vessel 'Redwing' (Tender, previously the war department's 'Sir Charles Pasley', transferred to the Royal Navy in 1905, sold in 1931) to investigate a seabed obstruction in the solent near the site where the A1 sank in 1904 (First British designed submarine, first of the A class submarines - an enlarged and improved 'Holland' class - sank with the loss of all 11 crew during a practice attack on HMS Juno when the conning tower was breached when she was run over by the Mail Steamer "SS Berwick Castle". She was refloated the same year and returned to service), reached the seabed and the repeatedly signalled for less air, then lost communications. Surface crew tried to pull him up but his lines were fouled (Although only diving in 11 fathoms they had paid out 200' of hose because of high currents and wanting to give the diver freedom to move about). They then manouvred the vessel and freed the lines bringing the diver to the surface 15 minutes later, but he was dead. Believed that his lines caught round the stump of an old mast and in an attempt to free himself had dropped his weights at which time he had floated towards the surface then held upside down by his lines and suffocated from lost air supply. "If he had waited perfectly quiet in deep water he could have been saved". They had a second diving dress on board but only had 50' of hose left so could not reach the diver. Inquest verdict was 'death from misadventure' with the coroner commenting that the diver's shipmates appeared to have done all that was possible in the circumstances. Wanganui Chronicle/Papers Past/National Library of New Zealand -
1909 8 3 Hutton Tumbull UK Harbour board S/S Air Aged 60, living at 19 High Street, Burntisland, employed by the harbour board, lost his life while engaged in a diving operation. No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Angus Evening Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive -
1907 8 27 Leverettt UK "The torpedo wreck off Berry Head" " …act of diver Leverett, he died the following day. Yesterday the boat was successfully raised by the Deveonport dockyard riggers..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in TheExeter and Plumouth Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive -
1905 8 29 Kitson? (John?) Frederick UK S/S Air "Diver dies underwater. While underwater Hartlepool on Tuesday night a diver named Frederick Kitpsn" (Assumed to be a scanning error, Kitson? TC)." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive -
1903 8 20 Santra Hiogo Australia S/S Air Diving Fatalities. BRISBANE. August 21. “A Japanese diver was killed whilst engaged in diving operations in the Missionary Passage, Thursday Island, through a pipe bursting. This makes the third fatality within a week. Reported in the Western Star and Roma Advertiser, Toowoomba, Qld FATALITIES AT THURSDAY ISLAND. The Treasurer has received a notification from the Inspector of Pearlshell Fisheries at Thursday Island, that the ‘Mabel’ had reported that a Japanese diver named Hiogo Santra was killed whilst diving in the Missionary Passage, through the pipe bursting. This makes the third fatality to Japanese divers in a week. A man from the lugger ‘Clifton’ died from paralysis at Kumusi, Missionary Passage, on 14th, and one from the lugger ‘Ivy’ from paralysis at Stephens Island on The 16th. Reported in the Brisbane Courier, Qld. -
1903 8 14 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Diving Fatalities. BRISBANE. August 21. “A Japanese diver was killed whilst engaged in diving operations in the Missionary Passage, Thursday Island, through a pipe bursting. This makes the third fatality within a week. Reported in the Western Star and Roma Advertiser, Toowoomba, Qld FATALITIES AT THURSDAY ISLAND. The Treasurer has received a notification from the Inspector of Pearlshell Fisheries at Thursday Island, that the ‘Mabel’ had reported that a Japanese diver named Hiogo Santra was killed whilst diving in the Missionary Passage, through the pipe bursting. This makes the third fatality to Japanese divers in a week. A man from the lugger ‘Clifton’ died from paralysis at Kumusi, Missionary Passage, on 14th, and one from the lugger ‘Ivy’ from paralysis at Stephens Island on The 16th. Reported in the Brisbane Courier, Qld. -
1903 8 1 Gunderson Charles USA S/S Air American, repairing a Boat, Reported as “Dashed to River's Bottom. HELMET IS BENT ON HIS HEAD. Accident While Repairing Propeller of the Disabled Eastland. Engines Are Started Up. Hard to Remove Helmet�. Reported in the Chicago Daily Tribune -
1902 8 20 Not Recorded Malta Military S/S Air "A diver's death. How a missing torpedo cost a life. A few days ago, HMS Barham (Third class cruiser launched in 1899, scrapped in 1914) was at torpedo practice outside the harbour at Malta.." . No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Angus evening Post/The British Newspaper Archive -
1900 8 14 Not Recorded UK "Diver Killed By Sluice Valve. In the Lady Windsor Dep Dock at Barry Docks. On Tuesday, a diver…" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Western Mail/The British Newspaper Archive -
1899 8 18 Baldwin William USA 45 S/S Air Second attempt to reach the wreck of the British ship 'Andelana' lying in 190' of water near Tacoma Harbour. “Death was due to some accident in the pumping gear which supplied the air� Reported in the Evening Telegram -
1895 8 0 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air "A Japanese diver of the lugger 'Pero' was drowned near Ka Moos reef while diving in fifteen fathoms of water. His diving gear fouled at the bottom. It was blowing a heavy south-east gale at the time". Reported in The Sydney Evening News -
1894 8 28 Not Recorded Australia 13 S/S Air "A Thurday Island telegram states that another Japanese diver has been drowned while working in 7 fathoms of water off Bada Island". South Australian Register. "The air pipe burst, and the diver, being inexperienced, failed to come to the surface, and the tender failed to haul him up until it was too late". The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton. "The pump and piping used were made in Japan" Reported in the Sydney Morning herald -
1894 8 0 Not Recorded UK Military S/S Air "Man of War Diver drowned, ..aid of divers, but several divers sent from various ships of the squadron were employed to search for the torpedo from the Benbow..." (HMS Benbow was an Admiral class battleship launched in June 1885 serving with the mediterranean fleet until 1891, held in reserve until 1894, then served as a guardship at Greenock, scrapped in 1909). No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald/The British Newspaper Archive -
1893 8 20 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Thursday Island, Sunday. "Another Manila diver has died in the hospitalfrom the effects of diving in deep water" The Argus, Melbournes, Vic. -
1893 8 10 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air "Quern Island". Thursday Island, August 15. "Another Manilla diver died in hospital last Thursday through diving in deep water off Thursday Island. He had been an inmate of the Hospital for nearly a fortnight. A second Manila diver is now in hospital paralysed beyond hope of recovery through working in the same locality". Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Tas. -
1893 8 3 Peter Australia S/S Air "A man named Peter, who was known as the most adept diver on the coast, has been drowned in diving dress, whilst engaged in shelling. His life line coiled around a projecting rock and, the boat drifting before he could get it free, the air air pipe broke. The deceased was under 40 minutes before the accident was discovered. Reported in the West Australian, Perth. -
1892 8 18 McLean Duncan Australia Stocton Coal 34 S/S Air “Sudden Death of a Diver. NEWCASTLE, Friday – “Duncan McLean, aged 34, a diver by profession, died in the hospital at 7 o'clock last night, having only been admitted at 3 o'clock that day. It appears the poor fellow was engaged at the Stockton Coal Pit to do some work in their shaft. The shaft is 110 feet deep and nearly full of wafer. McLean, who is a good diver, descended the shaft yesterday morning. He stayed down two hours and appeared in good health, when brought to the surface, but after being in the open for a few minutes he was seized with a fit and was taken to Dr. Hester’s surgery. Dr. Hester directed his removal to the hospital and accompanied him to the institution. Everything was done to revive him, but to no purpose, and the unfortunate fellow died as stated�. Reported in the Evening News, Sydney, NSW -
1890 8 26 Tanaka Australia S/S Air Japanese, reported as the first dead pearl diver recorded by name in the Broome cemetary. Died of the bends whilst diving off the pearling schooner "Willie" off Ninety Mile Beach (Stretches between Broome and Port Headland to the South). Reported by John Bailey, page 55, in his book "The White Divers of Broome" -
1887 8 1 McGhee Charles UK S/S Air "A diver suffocated. While a marine diver named Mchee was working at the wreck of a sunken yatch - the Cyrene - off Greenock this morning, the air...", "A diver drowned, the air pipe broke, and insensible when brought to the surface, dying…." "While Charles McGhee was engaged in passing chains round a sunken wreck off Greenock this morning, the air..." (The yatch was in a collision with another yatch - the Lorelei - against whom they were racing in the Firth of Clyde on the 9th of July 1887) No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegaph/Shields Daily Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive -
1883 8 0 Scott James UK S/S Air "Fatal accident to a diver" "…to be dead. The deceased was an experienced man diver, William Rowers stated that he was acting as signalman to the deceased, and it was..." "Fatal accient to a diver. On Monday evening (6th August 1883), Dr. Wynn Westcott, the deputy coroner for Middlesex, held inquest at the Three Compasses Tavern, High Street, Hornsey, concerning the death of James Scott, aged 40..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Alnwick Mercury/Tamworth Herald/The British Newspaper Archive -
1878 8 27 Not Recorded UK Military S/S Air "..body of a diver who died from syncope while engaged in diving practice from the gunnery ship 'Excellence' in Portsmouth Harbour, the..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Bristol Mercury/The British Newspaper Archive. Presumed to be another report into the death of Jeremoah Shanahan(27/8/1878) -
1878 8 0 Shanahan Jeremiah UK "Fatal Accident to a Diver, an inquest was opened at the town hall, Folkstone, on Tuesday, on the .." "Inquest at the dockyard into the death of a diver". No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Portsmouth Evening News/The British Newspaper Archive -
1875 8 12 Tippett John Hicks UK 9 S/S Air EXTRAORDINARY DEATH OF A DIVER. The diving cutter ‘Sir Francis Burdett’ has arrived at Hull with the body of James Tippett, diver, aged 37, The crew have been engaged for some time in preparations to blow up the steamer ‘Shamrock’, sunk at the entrance to the Humber in 30 feet of water. Yesterday morning Tippett went down under water fully dressed, when those on the cutter felt convinced something was wrong. He was hauled onboard but was found to be dead. The glass at the front of his helmet had been broken by some means and so had let in the water. He must have been dead long before he was got on board, Reported in the Bradford Observer -
1872 8 12 Not Recorded UK S/S Air "Diver drowned at the Aberdeen Beakwater. One of the divers at the new breakwater, Aberdeen,…" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in Dundee Courier/The British Newspaper Archive -
2013 8 6 Quiroga Sergio Daniel Uruguay Belfi-Techint or Stora Enso 7m Unknown Tuesday August 6th 2013 - Uruguay. Quiroga, Sergio Daniel, 2nd Corporal, aged 40, married, three children, Uruguayan Navy Diver with 21 years in the military, 16 as a diver, subcontracted to work for Belfi-Techint (working for main contractor Montes del Plata or for a Swedish company Stora Enso - conflicting reports or maybe just one of those multi-national organisations), on construction of a new dock in Puerto de Conchilllas (region of Colonia, 240 kilometres NW of Montevideo) , depth 7 metres, lifting/shackle operation, lines entangled, trapped underwater, drowned (not clear if S/S air or SCUBA plus communication line). -
2013 8 12 Huamanà Lloclla Daniel Franklin Peru Fenix Power Unknown Huamanà Lloclla, Daniel Franklin, aged 29, Peruvian Navy Diver with 12 years diving experience, sub-contracted to work for Fenix power in Chilca (520MW power plant being built about 65 kilometres south of Lima), appears to have either suffered a head injury (early reports) or to have been sucked into a seawater cooling inlet pipe and drowned at 14:00 (Later reports indicate differential pressure, pumps not turned off)<br />There have been other military divers killed in South America when serving but apparently 'sub-contracted/hired out/moonlighting/training/'? to government sponsored civil engineering projects by private corporations, seems to be common practice. -
2014 8 14 Relique Jesus Spain Aged 43, from Cadiz, married with 2 children, commercial diver for over 10 years, working at the port of Motril in Granada (Extending and deepening), appears to have been a three man team, the incident ocurred just after 8 in the evening, he was seen on the surface, unconcious, treated but was declared deceased at 10:30pm. No details. The Seaside Gazette -
2015 8 19 Koratko Mathew USA Harkand/Swiber 110m Saturation American, married, two children diving off the Swiber Quetzal, Bay of Campeche, riser installation operation. Accident in the water at 14:30 local, body taken ashore to Cuidad del Carrmen, no other details, Reported in the El Sur de Campeche. Complete news blackout imposed by Harkand and Swiber, Two conflicting and unsubstantiated reports - one indicated the fatality was due to stored energy in a member being cut was the cause - it sprang and crushed the diver's chest. A second report indicated that the one piece riser being installed crushed the diver against the structure - ie a lifting incident. If the lawyers keep this incident gagged it is unlikely that any lessons will be learnt. Later rumours indicate riser swung due to topsides crew moving/changing hang-off without the knowledge of the dive crew but without confirmation that is still just speculation. No further information has been released by Swiber, or the defunct Harkand. -
2015 8 17 Millard Jeremy Puerto Rico Deep Solutions 14m Diving with two others on a fibre optic cable job when he touched the left side of his chest and started floating, rescued by the Pinones Maritime Unit but had no vital signs. Press report says 'died because of health complications'. Reported by Endi/elnuevodia.com -
2018 8 3 dos Santos Filho Athayde (Tatá) Brazil Fugro 170 Sat Petrobras announced in a note to Imprensa that another fatal accident occurred on Friday, August 3, this time in the Santos Basin. The injured was the diver Athayde dos Santos Filho, 57, affectionately named "Tatá" and considered the most experienced in oil activity, who worked for the company Fugro in operation in Campo de Mexilhão. The diver was in saturated diving operation to a depth of 170 meters, providing support in the installation of submarine pipelines when the accident happened. Source: http://www.portalmaritimo.com/2018/08/05/mergulhador-morre-em-acidente-na-bacia-de-santos/ -
2018 8 28 Hamdan Mohammed Nasrallah Israel Nahshon Marine Construction SSDE Mohammed Hamdan, 33 years old Majd al-Krum, was killed today (Tuesday) in a diving accident site construction work on the new port of Haifa. Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated him to Rambam Hospital in the city, where he was pronounced dead. As far as is known, he was injured while operating underwater pumping equipment. The Hof police station reported: "At the center of 100, a report was received about a resident of the Galilee who was injured - apparently during underwater work when he operated equipment that he had in his possession. Researchers from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Transport were summoned. " Ronen Keren, CEO of Nahshon Underwater Works, said he still did not know the exact details of the incident under investigation: "What can be said at the moment is condolences to the family of the worker who was killed," he said. Mohammed Nasrallah Hamdan, 33, from Majd al-Krum in the Galilee, was survived by a wife and two young children, aged 6 and 4. Google Translate from: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5336729,00.html and https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5338011,00.html -
2021 8 3 Lazaroo Calvin Patrick Malaysia SCUBA Aged 27, diving with three others to salvage a boat off Sungai Besar, trying to tie a line to it and went missing. Body still with diving gear found floating on surface on the 8th of August about 9km SW of Sungai Besar. Reported in Maysian Press -
2021 8 4 Aguilar Torres Ruben Mexico Arendal Diving off the Jacson 34, initially reported as 'an accident on an oiltanker' and 'bursting of a pipeline caused the death' but no real details. The same contractor (Arendal) had a previous fatalty in 2019 (Adolfo Leon Carrillo) Reported in social media (Facebook) and Tabascohoy.com -
2013 7 10 Millecan Joel USA 20 S/S Air Aged 56, diving solo on hookah about a mile off Loma Point for sea urchin. Deck hand on the 35 foot boat called 911 when he failed to surface, lifeguards brought him to the surfaceunconscious and not breathing and performed CPR before he was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Reported in the San Diego Times -
2012 7 31 Van D Truong Vietnam Pearl or clam diver Aged 25, diver at a fish farm (pearls or clams) in Phu Yen Province. Resident in Ho Chi Minh City, returned to his home povince in July and went diving for clams. Developed high fever and headache on July 29th, the following day was hospitalised at the Nhan Dan Gia Dinh hospital in Ho Chi Minh city then transferred to the Tropical diseases hospital, treatment ineffectual as infection had spread from his nasal passages to the brain leading to Meningitis, fell into a coma, suffered three cardiac and respiratory arrests, was asked to be released on the 31st by his family, died in transit to his home. Subsequent tests confirmed he was infected with Naegleria fowleri. Amoeba was known to be endemic in Vietnam since in 1965, known as the 'brain eating amoeba', typically found in warm fresh water. Can invade humans and attackthe nervous sytem (rare) but when it occurs, typically has a 98% fatality rate. Of 121 cases reported in the USA since 1937, only one survivor. Reported in VietNamNet Bridge -
2012 7 24 Sheinost 1 David D USA Dept. of Natural Resources SCUBA Aged 24, from Puyallup, two man dive working with a four man diving tean for the Department of Natural Resources conducting geoduck surveys (sampling for paralytic shellfish poisoning) near Restoration Point on Bainbridge island. Reported as 'went missing during the dive' (surfaced in distress, called out he could not breath, slipped below the surface before the other divers reaced him), body recovered three days later. Death certificate indicates cause of death as 'salt water drowning' with a contributing factor 'acute cocaine intoxication'. Apparently did not hold a commercial diving license. Bainbridge Island Review. In January 2013, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L & I) cited the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for 15 worker-safety violations including two “willful� violations (committed with intentional disregard or plain indifference to worker safety and health regulations). (1) 370 occurrences over a 6-month period in which divers were deployed without carrying a reserve breathing-gas supply (2) DNR did not ensure a designated person was in charge at the dive location to supervise all aspects of the diving operation affecting the health and safety of the divers and proposed penalties of $172,900.
In addition to the two willful violations, L&I cited DNR for eight serious and five general violations for not complying with standard safe-diving practices and procedures, including failure to:- have an effective safety and health accident prevention program and training program; ensure that divers maintained continual visual contact with each other; inspect and maintain equipment; have a stand-by diver available while divers are in the water. DNR says it will appeal the fines saying that the department has corrected most of the violations that were found during the investigation by the state Department of Labor & Industries. Bainbridge Island Review -
2012 7 24 Sheinost 2 David D USA Dept. of Natural Resources SCUBA In January 2013, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L & I) cited the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for 15 worker-safety violations including two “willful� violations (committed with intentional disregard or plain indifference to worker safety and health regulations). (1) 370 occurrences over a 6-month period in which divers were deployed without carrying a reserve breathing-gas supply (2) DNR did not ensure a designated person was in charge at the dive location to supervise all aspects of the diving operation affecting the health and safety of the divers and proposed penalties of $172,900.
In addition to the two willful violations, L&I cited DNR for eight serious and five general violations for not complying with standard safe-diving practices and procedures, including failure to:- have an effective safety and health accident prevention program and training program; ensure that divers maintained continual visual contact with each other; inspect and maintain equipment; have a stand-by diver available while divers are in the water. DNR says it will appeal the fines saying that the department has corrected most of the violations that were found during the investigation by the state Department of Labor & Industries -
2012 7 13 Knight Michael Louis USA Seaward Marine Aged 49, civilian diver with 24 years experience working on the USS Wasp (Amphibious Assault Ship) at Pier 10 at the Norfolk Navy Base. Pronounced dead at the scene, cause of death not yet determined, no other details. Daily Press. -
2012 7 3 Antonov Rosen Bulgaria SCUBA Training to dive (Described as a professional SCUBA duver) with the institute of oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science near Varna on the Black Sea Coast (Programme specifically for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant). Second fatality in two months associated with this power plant (Radoslav Stoyanov or Dimitrov, 5th May 2012). No details. Reported by Publics.bg -
2011 7 19 Banaga Carlos Lucero Mexico Baja Acuafarm Aged 42, decompression incident onboard the vessel Buenaventura II 25 miles off the island of Coronado, evacuated by helicopter to the Ensenada Naval hyperbaric centre, successfully treated and discharged. Mexican Press -
2011 7 15 Martinez Edgar Saul Reyes Mexico SCUBA Aged 22 from Hermosillo, Colonia Oriente, clam diver, died at Puerta Penasco on La Cholla beach. No details. Reported in La Policiaca -
2011 7 9 Alvarez 'Dani' Daniel Spain 2 S/S Air Aged 35, married, 11 month old twins, Seaweed extraction (Agar "Ocle") operation, diving from the Biempica III two miles off Gijon (North Coast of Spain), vessel reported the diver was unconscious, transferred ashore but did not respond to treatment. Recorded as 'death by drowning'. Basic kit (SCUBA style second stage/mask, air hose and rope, Full face mask or helmet, no comms, no bail out, no harness,no surface stand-by no medical O2 onboard. Probably kinked hose but no details. GPS Buzeo/Spanish Press -
2010 7 29 Dobrajc Ziga Italy 4 Rebreather Aged 31, Slovenian biologist working at the Piran Marine Biology centre, diving on a 'Trieste HBY' rebreather off Miramar, injured in the same incident that killed Samo Alajbegovich on the 25th July. He was recovered from the sea unconscious by rescuers 10 metres from the shore in less than 4 metres of water. On life support in hospital for 4 days, declared brain dead, life support switched off. Reported in Slowwwenia.enaa.com -
2010 7 27 McCullough Mike USA SCUBA American, mid twenties. Paraphrased from press reports:- “A SCUBA diver retrieving golf balls at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course drowned Tuesday afternoon, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department said. "The lady driving the boat to the green said she had seen him at the back edge of the green diving for balls but hadn't seen him in an hour and half," said one golfer. “We started looking around to see if we could see him and when we looked over the left side of the green, we saw his face down body limp under the water, about 15 feet (offshore). But he wasn't moving and there weren't any bubbles coming out. The witness and a staff member took a boat out, pulled the body aboard and took the victim to an adjacent dock around 4 pm. The witness said the body was without diving gear when it was spotted. He was pronounced dead at Kootenai Medical Center around 5 p.m He was working for a contractor who picks up golf balls and other debris from the lake bottom in the area. Tuesday afternoon his gear was still at the bottom of the lake, said the sheriff's department. “Our divers will recover that and investigate this as the case goes on�. CDA Press. -
2010 7 25 Alajbegovich Samo Italy 7 Rebreather Aged 41, Slovenian biologist working at the Piran Marine Biology centre, diving on a 'Trieste HDT' rebreather off Miramar, body located in 7 metres of water 200 metres from the beach location where his diving partner, Ziga Dorajc was pulled alive, but unconscious (He subsequently died in hospital), from the water 4 hours earlier. Reported in Slowwwenia.enaa.com -
2010 7 24 Costello Patrick Germany Nordic Dive Enterprise 41 S/S Air 27 year old Swedish air diver working for a Danish contractor on a windfarm project in German waters. Reported as drowned in the last week of a six week diving job, had been airlifting from the DP II 'Maersk Tender', umbilical entangled one of the valves on the airlift. Did not activate his bailout, recovered to surface by the stand-by diver. Translated from German
Press reports dated Monday 26 07 2010:- “Diver dies when working in the offshore windfarm near Borkum. (Bard Offshore). The accident happened on Saturday at 40 meters in depth work. 'Aged 27, a professional diver from Sweden' said a police spokesman, confirming corresponding media reports�. Source: n-tv.de Other press reports indicate a possible lifting incident (TC)<br />UPDATE: The Danish Maritime Authority have released a Casualty Report regards this incident available from: http://www.dma.dk/news/Sider/Casualtyreportaboutdivingaccident.aspx<br />Also see topic in Incidents Diving Forum. -
2010 7 22 Torres Luis Martin Cohuo Mexico From Celestun but resident in Hunucma, wife and two children aged 14 and 7, shellfish diver, died in a decompression incident. No details. Reported by Yucatanalamano.com -
2010 7 21 Wesley Skiles USA 21 Rebreather Aged 52, Professional underwater photographer and explorer of underwater caves in Florida, diving 3 miles off Boynton Beach, found unconscious on the seabed by colleagues, did not respond to treatment. Gainsville Sun -
2010 7 13 Not Recorded Finland S/S Air Reported as a 43 year old diver working at the oil port of Kemi (checking port sonar equipment) became distressed in the water whilst working on Monday 9th July, was pulled to the surface and taken to hospital in a critical condition, died on the following Friday. Dates are confused (Monday was 5th July?) No other details. Reported by hlb.fi -
2010 7 12 Not Recorded Germany 39 year old commercial diver disappeared whilst working on clearing fishing nets from the propeller of the liner 'Noordam' in Bremerhaven (Crew had complained of vibration). Not clear whether propeller rotated or fell off, but diver disappeared in the fast flowing current of the Weser Police report, no other details -
2010 7 2 Hollifield Chris USA Veolia 76 Saturation Aged 33, former US Marine, Post 'Katrina' remedial works off the 'Normand Clipper', possible u/w oxy/arc diving explosion. Standby diver was deployed and located diver unresponsive on the seabed, did not respond to treatment. No details. Survived by wife and unborn son. Personal communication -
2009 7 28 Ricciarelli Louis USA 6 S/S Air American, aged 56, diving off Quonset point from the 25'.commercial fishing vessel 'Chelsea Ann' for Qhahogs (clams). Diving solo, no crew. Alerted as 'not returned' by his wife, boat located with diving hose over the side. Divers recovered him from the seabed, deceased. “Equipment failure/lost gas� but no details. Reported in the Providence Journal -
2009 7 24 Not Recorded Australia Peter Cunningham Holdings 17 metre Cray fishing vessel 'Wave Crest' (with 1500 litres of diesel fuel onboard) was blown ashore and then sank in Waubs Bay, near Bicheno. The salvage company raised the boat and sealed the fuel leak but Workplace Standards Tasmania prosecuted. “The diver was not properly qualified to be involved in that process," The diver was fined $300 dollars and the company fined $600. ABC News, Australia -
2009 7 12 Nevmatov Rafik Azerbaijan Caspian Diving and Rescue Topsides MI-8 helicopter coming in from the block 4 off Chilov island, crashed into the sea in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, wreckage located at a depth of 85-89 meters.. Three man crew survived and one passenger survived, two passengers missing, presumed dead - crane operator Viktor Mostavenko and commercial diver Rafik Neymatov. -
2009 7 11 Sparks David USA Orion Marine Commercial diver died on a pipeline diving operation in Lake Lanier, Georgia, rumours of entanglement, but no details -
2009 7 6 Brown Darren UK Shell Seekers SCUBA Aged 41, Gathering scallops in Lulworth cove. Diving solo from a RIB with a boat handler who was collecting the scallops in bags marked by surface buoys . She raised the alarm when she came to the last marker buoy and the diver was missing. Three Coastguard teams scoured the shoreline, Weymouth inshore and all weather RNLI lifeboats and Coastguard helicopter searched at sea joined by RN mine hunter HMS Middleton (on exercise in the area) but it was a safety boat from the Army's Lulworth range which found him three hours later, swimming with the tide three miles away. “Diver was difficult to locate because he was not carrying a surface detection aid, however the fact that he was wearing a dry suit increased his survivability� (in the water for about four-and-a-half hours). Quote:- "That's the risks we take to supply shellfish to these top celebrity chefs, it highlights the dangers we take and we depend on getting paid reasonably for our efforts�. He said that he will now always carry day and night flares and other aids. -
2008 7 27 Spencer William USA BIDCO 20 American, aged 42, working off the construction barge "Lone Star Horizon" (a 314' ong construction barge) on the Neptune LNG project (terminal and pipeline) 12 miles offshore Massachusetts. BIDCO (Buffalo Industrial Diving Company) were subcontractors to Caldive. Diver replacing air hose on stinger, reported difficulty breathing, stand-by divers brought him to the surface, CPR, medivac to hospital, later declared dead, heart attack. -
2008 7 26 Not Recorded S/S Air Shell safety flash, complete failure of stand-by diver basket main lift wire, basket caught by clump weight. Report in preparation -
2008 7 24 Fournier Christophe France Hydrokarst S/S Air French, aged 39, Marseilles port, cutting up a sunken boat, underwater oxy/arc explosion -
2008 7 16 Huenante Samuel Arturo Nahuelhuaique Chile Fish Farm Chilean aged 38, Samuel Arturo Nahuelhuaique Huenante died after diving on a Mainstream salmon farm in Calaco near Calbuco, south of Puerto Montt. Dive should not have taken place (The port was closed for diving operations by the authorities for bad weather). According to the Santiago-based NGO Ecoceanos, he was the 56th salmon industry worker to perish in the past two and a half years (includes 17 divers), he was the 5th diver to be killed in 2008. Overall the industry employs an estimated 4,000 such divers. No details Patagonia Times -
2007 7 28 Carey Lavar Bahamas Paradise Cove Resort SCUBA Paraphrased from a reported in the Nassau Guardian. “Grand Bahama police on Saturday reported another drowning. Initial reports by police indicate that 22-year-old Lavar Carey of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, an employee at a local watersports company, apparently drowned while at work at that facility in West Grand Bahama late Saturday afternoon. According to police shortly before six o'clock Saturday evening, the duty officer at the Police Dispatch Centre in Freeport received a call from a staff member at Paradise Cove Resort in Deadman's Reef, who reported that one of their divers was discovered by the resort's proprietor floating underwater, an apparent drowning victim. As a result, EMR Division and Central Detective Unit officers along with EMS personnel were dispatched to that location. Upon arrival there, the resort's owner, Barry Smith, pointed out Carey's body lying on the beach. He noted that Carey, who had been employed as a diver for the past year, had gone out as usual in a boat around 5:00 p.m., to collect the dive marker flags and floats and bring them ashore to secure them. After he failed to return within 20 minutes, fellow staff members became concerned and, along with Smith, they got into a boat and went looking for him. Smith stated that they found the boat that Carey had gone out in, but did not see him anywhere. After searching the area offshore from the beach for about 30 minutes, Carey was found floating motionless underwater. He was rushed ashore and rendered CPR and other resuscitative measures, but failed to respond. EMS personnel rushed him to the trauma section at the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:35 p.m. by the doctor on duty.� Diver at work, but not a diving incident, TC -
2007 7 22 DSV "Eclipse" UKCS Caldive Subsea 7 Saturation DSV "Eclipse" (Ex "Stena Seaspread"). Loss of pressure from the transfer trunk when preparing for the transfer of divers (TUP), HSE issued a prohibition notice to Cal Dive International Pte., the owners of the vessel, with actions required to be implemented prior to the continued use of the Dive System for Saturation Diving. The corrective actions are both mechanical and procedural, est. 3 days. HSE to witness the completed improvement. At the time the seal was lost on the trunk the divers were in the bell. -
2007 7 22 Wilson Stephen USA SCUBA Sports diver, aged 36, fatally injured when struck by lightning as he surfaced. Miami Herald -
2007 7 18 Whittal Robert USA Speciality diving, inshore 3 S/S Air From South Africa, Jetting, lost air pressure from topside, not wearing a bail out. Ditched his hat but fouled in his umbilical and jet hose. By the time the crew got him on deck, no pulse, not breathing, bleeding from the head. Revived with CPR, medivac-ed to hospital, initially on life support. Ongoing lawsuit. -
2007 7 17 Nahar Indonesia Paraphrased from press reports:- Pier Ipi, Nusa Damai, Ende, Flores Island. Wreck of a vessel sunk in September 2004, needed to be removed as it was obstructing ferry access to the pier. Diver killed in an explosion cutting into the hull during salvage operations. No details. Metrotvnews.com -
2007 7 0 Not Recorded Qatar McDermott 0 Surface Swimmer Lay barge KP1, Qatargas SPM Project, 42" pipeline lay. The accident occurred while the diver swimmer was doing work on the stinger in the water. A swell swept him into the barge where he suffered a fractured pelvis and several fractured ribs. He was medivac’d to Hamad hospital, Doha. Reported as out of intensive care, no indication of any internal organ damage. -
2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 1 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. Initially reported simply as "Liftboat, 'somebody' started the engine, umbilical caught in wheel, diver pulled to the surface and killed in the wheel". Further investigation revealed he was British, Aged 31, living in Seattle, diving from a "backup jack-up" vessel to repair a riser in shallow water off Southeast Louisiana near the mouth of the Mississippi River. He was killed when his umbilical was caught in the propeller of the vessel. His death was classified as death resulting from the trauma of the propeller strikes and drowning. The OSHA report summary simply states "On July 30, 2005, Employee #1 was performing supplied-air diving operations in water about 8 to 10 ft deep. The dive took place about 8 to 12 ft from the stern of a twin screw jack-up boat (a boat with the wheelhouse located at the bow of the vessel). A predive safety briefing was held that morning. Employee #1 began a dive at 3:20 p.m. and had been on the bottom about 10 to 15 minutes when his air line was caught by the port propeller of the boat. He was killed. Investigation of the port power-train of the boat revealed that a worn clutch in the port power train resulted in the port propeller turning under the torque of the engine at all times" additional details in entries 2 and 3 below -
2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 3 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. The Investigation:- The Delise and Hall Investigation concluded that the death of the diver was caused by supervisor error and unseaworthy condition of the vessel. The supervisor testified that he was confused by the configuration of the vessel as a "backup" or "reverse" jack-up vessel and did not realize that the props were at the end of the vessel from which the divers were working. The supervisor was inexperienced and had no certification as a supervisor. A JSA (not done) would have established the risk of a diver diving in close proximity to the vessel's props and would have called for a "tag-out, lock-out" of the vessel's controls (Some experts also suggested that a chain-lock of the prop should have been called for). Even more inexperienced was the dive tender (First job tending a diver, his second day of employment with the diving contractor, had graduated from dive school that week). Evidence indicates that the tender let out approximately three times the usual amount of umbilical hose for this shallow a job thereby allowing the hose to slack and be drawn into the propeller. Without the failure of the vessel's transmission (Propellers engaged – even when not ‘in gear’ - when engine running to power crane) this accident would not have occurred. Additionally, the vessel's captain did not follow company protocol to completely jack the vessel out of the water. He further left the controls unattended while he operated the crane and agreed to position the vessel such that the divers had no real choice but to dive from the stern. All testimony in this case indicated that the propeller "free spin" phenomenon was common to jack up vessels. Witnesses testified as to having observed it previously on other vessels (there had been a similar transmission failure on a sister vessel). The USCG inspect for "free spin". The point vessel owner was aware of the potential danger and failed to warn anyone of such or follow any type of lockout/tag out system. The Delise and Hall concluded that there were seven serious root causes of the fatality:- 1. The dive supervisor's allowance of a work site near propellers without a "tag out – lock out" procedure in place. 2. The supervisor's ignorance concerning the layout of the vessel; 3. The vessel captain's failing to lift the vessel completely out of the water and to allow diving operations to commence with a dangerous "free spin" of the propeller caused by a faulty transmission and/or clutch; 4. The vessel captain's "cowing down" to the general contractor's direction; 5. Failure of the supervisor to follow established policies and procedures established by his employer's Safe Diving Practices Operations Manual; 6. Failure of the diving supervisor to establish and implement a Job Safety Analysis; 7. Failure of the dive supervisor assure that the tender was experienced and familiar with company and industry procedures. reported by Delise and Hall. -
2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 2 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. The Incident:- The dive plan was to locate a leak in the pipeline, hand jet the pipeline to trace the line and determine if it could be lifted followed by a repair of the leak onboard the vessel.  Due to crossing lines, the main contractor directed that the damaged portion of the line be cut and a clamp installed. This required that the repaired section be lifted from bottom and replaced underwater utilizing divers and the vessel's crane. The three leg jack-up had its wheelhouse at its bow, hence the name "backup jack-up". Unlike conventional jack-up vessels, the propellers of the vessel are located at the opposite end of the vessel from the wheelhouse. The vessel was positioned stern to the platform. The vessel was not, as was required by the vessel owner's operation manual, fully jacked out of the water (which left the propellers in the water). The dive station was set up at the stern in close proximity to the vessel propellers. In order to lift the riser section, it was necessary to utilize one of the vessel's two cranes to lift the riser to the deck of the vessel. The gender felt a tug on the diver’s umbilical followed suddenly, without warning, by the umbilical being jerked from the tender's hand; witnesses testified that soon thereafter they heard the engine "bog" and "thump" under the vessel as the prop apparently struck the diver's helmet.  The dive supervisor, having lost communications with the diver, entered the water and found his lifeless body entangled in the vessel props. Reported by Delise and Hall -
2005 7 26 Kringle Alan USA Anchor Marine Environmental Services S/S Air Aged 16, Reported as recreationally SCUBA qualified 8 months earlier, had been working as a diver for the contractor for 6 months. Four man team working on a lake restoration project. Conflicting press/sheriff reports. One version is that 'he surfaced but then sank', another that the compressor 'just ran out of gas', another that the compressor stopped but had a reserve tank but that for some reason he ditched his helmet, another that only his hands broke surface though there seems to be agreement that as the incident progressed, the surface crew pulled on this hose but only succeeded in pulling up his helmet and discovered he was entangled in another rope, eventually brought to the surface not breathing, no pulse. On site CPR, taken to Orlando Regional Medical Centre, reported as in a critical condition. No further details. -
2005 7 25 DSV "Samundra Suraksha" India ONGC Saturation Mumbai high collision, fire, destruction, 6 divers in sat survived the incident -
2005 7 25 Mumbai High India ONGC Mumbai High platform, DSV 'Samundra Suraksha' collided with platform, riser broken, fire destroyed the platform a rig, a helicopter and the DSV. 22 fatalities. -
2005 7 20 Shaw Scott USA USN Topsides Aged 29, U.S. Navy diver with 11 years decorated service was killed and another injured in a single-vehicle accident at Blackwater USA's training facility in Moyock Wednesday. The Gunner's Mate 1st Class and Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Alejandro Delapena, 23, were thrown from a Jeep as the vehicle rolled on a sharp turn after they had completed training. -
2005 7 19 Atanassov Atanas Middle East FDI Saturation Bulgarian, onboard the "Gulmar Falcon", End of bell run, Heart attack. Discovered to be on medication for high blood pressure. -
2005 7 10 Hurricane Dennis USA Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the very active 2005 Atlantic hurricane season (Followed by Katrina and Rita). Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season. In July, the hurricane set several records for early season hurricane activity, becoming both the earliest formation of a fourth tropical cyclone and the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to form before August; the lastly mentioned was a title it held for only six days before being surpassed by Hurricane Emily. Wikipedia -
2005 7 10 Thunder Horse USA BP Reported as the largest offshore platform ever built, BP's Thunder Horse was constructed in South Korea before being transported to the Thunder Horse Field in the Mississippi Canyon Block in the Gulf of Mexico. It is an oil and gas production platform linked to 25 subsea wells, and is planned to be the largest producer in the Gulf. Production was initially scheduled to begin at the end of 2005, but this has been delayed due to a ballast control incident around the time of Hurricane Dennis. As the Dennis approached the Gulf of Mexico in July 2005, the rig was secured and the crew evacuated. After Dennis had passed, the rig was found listing an estimated 20-30 degrees. Subsequent inspection found that key valves had failed and allowed ballast water to move inside the platform. Salvage personnel from Bisso Marine and BP boarded the rig on 11 July 2005 and, using powerful portable pumps, removed water from the platform's 185 foot portside columns and stabilised the installation. As a result, production was delayed whilst repairs were undertaken, with the start of production operations in 2007. Oil Rig Disasters -
2005 7 4 Yamashita Takahiro Japan Scientist SCUBA Aged 30, Research scientist (Marine invertebrates) at the University of Tokyo, taking water samples, failed to surface, searchers located his body on the seabed. University of Tokyo report -
2004 7 31 Benton Liston Darren USA Aged 37, former Navy diver and Gulf War veteran. Greenville County pond (private pond near Jones Gap State Park) Trying to move a bucket clogging a drain , when brought to the surface, he was wearing everything but his mask and all his equipment was intact. Reported that as he removed the drain plug to empty the pond his arm was pulled into the outlet, trapping him. Emergency services called within 10 minutes (By his wife, he was diving solo). The Greenville County dive team found him a short time later, but it took more than a dozen men to pull him free of the suction holding him in place. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Reported by WIS -
2004 7 27 Londo Luigi Italy Geomar 14 Rebreather 34 year old, off Trieste, three divers together off a small boat free swimming clearing pipeline outlet, died during the dive -
2004 7 11 Beek Raymond van Malta 3 Freeport of Berzebbugia, conducting a video survey of hull of vessel "Verlaine", bow thruster started, Master & Chief engineer charged with involuntary homicide, prosecution failed on lack of proof, March 2007. Two other divers were reported injured in the same incident -
2004 7 11 Not Recorded Malta 3 Freeport of Berzebbugia, Raymond van Beek was killed whilst conducting a video survey of hull of vessel "Verlaine", bow thruster started, Master & Chief engineer charged with involuntary homicide, prosecution failed on lack of proof, March 2007. Two other divers were reported injured in the same incident and were taken to St Luke's hospital for treatement but were never mentioned in subsequent reports. -
2004 7 10 Davidson Robert New Zealand SCUBA Aged 35, recreational diver with 20 years experience, failed to surface from a solo crayfish collecting dive, death attributed to asphyxiation due to high carbon monoxide content in his cylinders -
2004 7 3 Byrne Damien Ireland North East Diving Services Irish, aged 24 died after he became entangled in lines during a salvage operation on a sailing yacht that sank over the weekend in Dublin Bay. Sunday, three man salvage crew, only one experienced in salvage operations. On arrival at site, they did not anchor over the yacht as the owners were afraid that it could damage the yacht. This meant the dive boat was not firmly anchored and drifted some distance from the dive site. Straps and lifting bags were attached to the yacht in preparation for raising it. After discovering one of the lifting bags would not inflate, it was decided to abandon the operation for the night. However, after consultation with the owners, it was decided to deflate the bags in case the yacht would drift and damage its hull. Mr Byrne dived again at 8.05pm and sometime later it was noticed that no bubbles from his air tank were visible on the surface. Diver 3 dived at 8.15 pm. He was low on air so he had to come up before freeing Mr Byrne from the lines. After he was rescued, first aid was administered to Mr Byrne on the dive boat before he was transferred to hospital where he died later that day. €25k fine imposed on the diving company and €20k on the company's director (Who was out of country at the time of the accident) who pleaded guilty to not having adequate safety equipment during the dive. Diving Company closed down. -
2003 7 22 Rotaru Mircea Romania Stef and Fan SRL 30 SCUBA Paraphrased from reports :- Aged 54 years, lexNavy diver, leader of 6 divers onboard a vessel undertaking installation cleaning operations (Black Sea, Gloria platform). After they arrived in the area, two divers went a depth of 30 meters to check the platform legs, and because they were late to emerge, Mircea Rotaru jumped into the water after them, but as he went down, they surfaced. They noticed he was missing and searched for him. He was found face up to the bottom and brought to the platform where he tried to resuscitate him, but without any result. His body was taken ashore to the morgue in Mangalia. Experts say it is possible that he had a heart attack when he jumped into the water. The contractor stated he had a medical� Reported by Kappa.ro -
2003 7 21 Rudorf Peter Iraq Subsurface Engineering 14 British, aged 25, clearing routes for vessels in the port of Umm Qasr, reported as "taken ill during diving", Inquest was held in the UK. No details. -
2003 7 13 Not Recorded USA Apache Topsides Overboard fatality during mooring operations, South Timbalier, crew fell overboard while taking a line off the platform, 30 minutes to recover him, deceased on recovery, crushed to death -
2003 7 5 Begneaux Marc Damon USA Caldive 193 Saturation Ewing bank 827, DSV "Witch Queen", Wellhead burning, oxy/arc, U/W explosion 191, (see IMCA SF 10/03) -
2003 7 3 A Raphael Poland Fire Brigade 10 Aged 34, firefighter/diver, breath hold exercise during training at the postgraduate fire school in Poznan, got entangled in the ropes of his marker buoy, could not cut the rope, pulled to the surface unconscious and died in hospital of cerebral hypoxia two days after a training accident. Reported in Virtual Poland/Wirtualnapolska -
2002 7 8 Not Recorded USA Montgomery county SCUBA Diver died during a body search in Muddy River Lake, south lancaster County. No details. Reported by Lancaster Newspapers -
2002 7 6 Mouritson Chris USA Caldive 32 S/S Air 34 year old with 12 years experience from the DSV 'Mr Fred' at Eugene Island 273, BP, KM 17B, helmet flooded, drowned but unclear if he ditched it, poorly maintained hat with valve issues (see IMCA SF 01/03). -
2001 7 25 Novichenko A USSR Stavropolsky region, Aged 41, During the repair work at the Sengeleevsky Water reservoir dam. Sucked in a wall break by the water flow. No details. Undersea Review -
2001 7 24 Murray David UK RN 81 Rebreather Diving from the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre at Kyle of Lochalsh, RN "Could not reveal the nature of the men's dive" Aged 28, a member of Fleet Diving Unit 3, based at Horsea Island in Portsmouth for just 6 weeks, failed to surface and was reported missing on the morning of July 24. His body was recovered that afternoon. The cause of the incident was not reported pending a Board of Inquiry. -
2001 7 13 Rig 'Marine IV' USA Jack Up, blow out -
2000 7 15 Not Recorded Australia Topsides LST injured (Major hand trauma) during demobilisation gas transfer - a William James compressor explosion. 20/80 heliox. Safety Flash issued by Australia authorities. (See IMCA SF 03/00). -
2000 7 14 Poore Tommy USA SCUBA American, vesssel husbandry work on a vessel in the Houston Shipping channel, reported missing, body recovered two days l;ater. No commercial qualifications. NAOCD/cDiver -
1999 7 21 Juse Bill USA Black Dog Divers Died 9 miles inside a tunnel dry diving operation in New Deer sewage outfall, Boston, double fatality (Juse). Both divers died as a result of bad air quality that resulted from extremely poor equipment and equipment not made to be used in a tunnel environment. Over $200,000 in fines for wilful violations. Boston Globe and others -
1999 7 21 Nordeen Tim USA Nowesco Died 9 miles inside a tunnel dry diving operation in New Deer sewage outfall, Boston, double fatality (Juse). Both divers died as a result of bad air quality that resulted from extremely poor equipment and equipment not made to be used in a tunnel environment. Over $200,000 in fines for wilful violations. Boston Globe and others -
1999 7 15 Pottberg Brian USA Fire Brigade SCUBA Aged 25, Member of Lee's Summit fire department. Described as a routine training exercise in Lakewood lake (Acting as the centre point for a second diver to swim increasing circular search pattern), “On July 15, 1999, one male fire fighter/paramedic/rescue diver (the victim) drowned while taking part in a drill. The victim, one of four rescue divers and a boat driver participating in a training drill, was assigned the "Pivot Diver" position. During the drill, a Safety Diver was to remain at the surface. The Pivot Diver (the victim), was to enter the water, follow the anchor line to the bottom, set up with a 50-foot length of rope, then signal the Pattern Diver (whose duty is to swim in a circular pattern searching for a rescue/recovery target) to descend and proceed with the drill. The crew on the surface observed air bubbles as the victim descended. Approximately 2 minutes later the rope bag surfaced while the bubbles continued. It appeared to the crew on the surface that the victim was searching for the rope bag because the air bubbles appeared to be moving back and forth. The Lead Diver instructed the Pattern Diver to descend and retrieve the victim. The Lead Diver also started to knock on the bottom of the rescue boat with a dive knife in hopes of signaling the victim to return to the surface. When the Pattern Diver surfaced, he reported the victim could not be found. The Lead Diver then instructed the Boat Driver to radio for emergency assistance and implement the department’s Incident Command System (ICS). The Lead Diver also directed the Safety Diver to initiate rescue of the victim. When the Safety Diver surfaced without the victim, the Lead Diver instructed the Safety Diver to assume the role of Pivot Diver. The Lead Diver assumed the role of Pattern Diver. Both the Safety Diver and Lead Diver dove below the surface to initiate a rescue of the victim. The victim was found during the search and brought to the surface approximately 11 minutes after the Boat Driver initially requested emergency assistance. When the victim was brought to the surface, the air regulator was not in his mouth and he was noticeably cyanotic and unresponsive. The victim received immediate medical attention on the Rescue Boat and while en route to a regional trauma center, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The cause of death was listed as drowning. NIOSH report. -
1999 7 11 Imajo Hiroshige Japan S/S Air Aged 32, diving off the vessel 'Sumitoyo Maru' in Osaka, apparently killed in the water after being hit of the head by his deck mounted air compressor that was pulled off the deck by a tight airline. May have been a lightweight hookah system, no other details. AxccessMyLibrary.com -
1998 7 29 Not Recorded Turkey Chamber Turkish doctor and 2 SCUBA divers killed in blast in decompression chamber An explosion in a decompression chamber released a cloud of noxious fumes, killing a doctor and two scuba divers at a hospital, the Anatolia news agency said. The cause of the explosion Tuesday was not immediately known and officials at Capa hospital refused to comment. Associated Press -
1998 7 16 Ibrahim Lt. Cmmdr. Mohamed Arshad New Zealand Royal Malaysian Navy Malaysian Navy officer, aged 37, on a two year exchange training programme with the Royal New Zealand Navy, killed in a diving exercise at the Navy base in Auckland. No other details. Straits Times -
1998 7 13 Not Recorded South Korea Military South Korean military commanders put troops on the country's eastern coast on alert and declared a curfew in the area after finding the body of a diver who they said was a North Korean commando. The diver, whose body apparently washed up on the beach, was wearing a wet suit, goggles and two oxygen tanks and carrying a Czech-made submachine gun, a hand grenade, radio transmission gear and an underwater camera, the military said. Nearby, investigators found a cone-shaped aluminum submersible boat that could carry up to five commandos. ''Judging from the objects found, it has been proven that the dead diver was an armed infiltrator,'' said a Defense Ministry spokesman. A month ealier, a furor erupted when a South Korean fisherman caught a North Korean submarine in his drift net. The North Korean commandos on board apparently killed the crew and then themselves, but South Korean officials said that some of the commandos had recently been on South Korean soil. That incident aroused only limited outrage in the South, in part because the submarine was 12 miles offshore when it was caught in the net. North Korea said it had lost power and suggested that it had drifted south. A more serious episode occurred when a North Korean submarine ran aground on the South Korean coast in October 1996 and 19 crew members and commandos slipped ashore. Some 70,000 South Korean troops were deployed to hunt them down, and in the end all the North Koreans were killed or committed suicide except one who was captured and another who was never found. The body discovered this morning was found by a South Korean man walking along the beach near the city of Tonghae, 110 miles east of Seoul. Defense Ministry doctors examined the body and said that the man had died of a heart attack and had been dead between 24 and 48 hours. New York Times -
1998 7 0 Rig 'Glomar Arctic IV' Rig Disaster Semi Sub, explosion, 2 fatalities -
1997 7 23 Not Recorded Singapore A shark attacked a diver doing underwater work at a Tuas Wharf "almost bit his arm off". No other details. Straits Times -
1997 7 8 Kwan Lee Hon Singapore SCUBA Aged 31, Last seen entering the water at berth K14 at Keppel Terminal to clean the hull of a ship. Body recovered the day after. No other details. Straits Times -
1997 7 4 Tuomey Garry USA Sports diver SCUBA Aged 42, sports diver, drowned after becoming incapacitated from breathing carbon monoxide. Compressor filter (carbon) had exploded at the SCUBA shop, the burning carbon had contaminated his air cylinder. The shop replaced the broken filter but did not drain the tanks. Explosion reported as due to 'spontaneous combustion ignited in part by pressurised oxygen' The medical examiner ruled the death accidental and investigations closed because no state laws were violated'. St Petersburg Times -
1996 7 0 Not Recorded Indonesia Comex/PT Komaritim 20 SCUBA Indonesian diver, vessel sent out to confirm location of a pipeline leak, passed leak and dropped a marker buoy. As the vessel made a second pass, two divers in SCUBA jumped in with a marker buoy on a line to attach to the pipeline near the leak. (Possibly a 10"or 12" pipeline, hole was in the 6 o/c position.). While they were underwater attaching the rope, the leak stopped. It is reported – not confirmed – that the client representative was for some reason not happy that he could no longer see bubbles and radio'd the platform asking them to inject more gas. Whether true or not, the leak did restart, violently. The product was gas plus condensate. One diver was found dead tangled in the marker rope, his face virtually stripped of flesh from where the high pressure gas/condensate had blown off his SCUBA mask, the other diver did not surface, missing, his body was not located at the time (Not reported whether it was found later). PC -
1996 7 0 Not Recorded USA 1 SCUBA In July 1996, a 24-year-old commercial fisherman with no diving certification used scuba gear while attempting to clear a fishing net wrapped around the propeller of a fishing vessel. He became entangled in the net and was unable to free himself. Other crew members were unable to assist because they had no diving gear. He was retrieved approximately 3 hours later, and no attempt was made to resuscitate him. The scuba tank still contained an adequate amount of air. The cause of death was drowning. NIOSH review of occupational diving fatalities in Alaska -
1995 7 31 Westell Bradley UK Stena 26 Saturation British. DSV "Orelia". Shallow saturation, DP, tied off umbilical released, caught in thruster. Head injuries and multiple trauma. Supervisor fined for erasing black box tape, family awarded £104,000 in compensation, Contractor fined £200, 000 -
1993 7 6 Fassnacht James USA Police 6m SCUBA American police officer aged 42, East Orange, New Jersey. With two other divers clearing intake grill in Weequahic park lake, drowned. Another report states "James Fassnacht, a 42 year old police officer was killed in 15-18 feet of water on 07/06/93. The officer was asked to assist another officer in checking a screen on an intake pipe used for irrigating of a municipal golf course. Officer Fassnacht advised his dive partner that he was "uncomfortable". Officer Fassnacht stayed at the surface while his partner submerged to check the screen intake. After a short period of time, Officer Fassnacht indicated to an officer on the shore that he needed assistance. Officer Fassnacht grabbed a buoy that was on the surface, but the buoy did not support the officer. About fifteen seconds after the officer and buoy sank, the buoy popped to the surface but Officer Fassnacht did not. A search was begun and Officer Fassnacht was quickly recovered. CPR was initiated, but was pronounced dead a Beth Israel Hospital after efforts failed. The cause of death was ruled accidental drowning.". PSDiver.com -
1992 7 6 Not Recorded USA 56 EI 273, "Preparing platform for drilling rig, under investigation by USCG" -
1990 7 27 SCUBA Sports Divers Reported in the Miami Herald “There is a saying that scuba diving is so much fun you could just die. Unfortunately, many do. Divers get swept away by currents, snagged in underwater wrecks, tangled in seaweed, hit by boats, lost under ice or in light less freshwater caves like the ones that honeycomb North Florida. In the 18 years ending in 1988, 2,562 divers died in scuba accidents, 499 of them in Florida, according to the National Underwater Accident Data Center (NUADC) at the University of Rhode Island�. -
1990 7 5 Ratif Ishak bin Abdul Singapore Reported as drowned during a scanning operation off Pulau Ayer Chawan, found unconscious by a colleague. No other details. Straits Times -
1989 7 27 Not Recorded USA Russian Navy SCUBA Joint USA/Russian military subsea photographic expedition sponsored by tha National Geographic Society onboard the Soviet vessel 'Keldysh'. Used two Mir submersibles to set bait boxes to attract sharks, but during the expedition a Soviet diver failed to surface. Unclear if his body was ever recovered. No details -
1989 7 12 Barnes Roger USA Louisville Water Company 5 Aged 32, Sludge clearing at the Crescent Hill Filter Plant, disappeared, sucked into a 24" pipe (Not wearing lifelines because both he and his dive partner decide not to use safety lines in case they got entangled on equipment in the basin), body recovered an hour later. Had bbeen working for the water company as a diver for 10 years but had no commercial qualifications. Reported in the Daily News