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Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 1891 6 18 Luciano Manuel Australia S/S Air ‘A Diver Browned’. Thursday Island, Monday. — ‘The lugger ‘Revenge’, which returned to this port on Saturday evening, brings the body of a colored diver named Luciano. While diving that morning Luciano's piping became fastened to some coral, and when efforts were being made by the crew to release the diver the piping burst. The crew being unable to bring Luciano to the surface, another diver on the lugger ‘Narrellan’ at once went below and brought Luciano to the surface; but the latter was dead, having apparently been drowned owing to the presence of water in the dress after the piping burst. The piping is said to be very old’ Reported in the Evening News, Sydney, NSW
  3. 1891 6 16 Imanuel Australia S/S Air "Another fatal diving accident occurred at Goods Island Station, Torres Straits, by which a diver named Imanuel was drowned through the bursting of the airpipe, through, it is alleged, imperfect appliances". Reported in the Bendigo Advertiser, Victoria.
  4. 1879 6 30 Clifford Paul Louis Australia 5 S/S Air Aged about 25 or 26, described as a powerful young man, engaged as a diver at the wreck of the barque 'bells' (Having presented himself as an experienced diver), completed three dives but on entering the water on a dive at around 2pm seemed to go the opposite way to where he had been instructed to go. Apparently signalled he was coming up followed by 'less air'. Did not surface and after 15 minutes the crew pulled him to the surface but he was dead. "It is supposed that deceased must have given a wrong signal and so come by his death". Reported in Papers Past, The Star.
  5. 1878 6 27 Shervell Henry New Zealand "Henry Shervell, a diver, was committed for trial today for stealing guns from the wreck of the Ann Gambles" Evening Post, National Library of New Zealand. (The 'Ann Gambles' was an iron barque built in 1862 by Harrington and Williamson. She sailed from Gravesend in England in January, was lost in heavy weather at the entrance to Bluff Harbour on the 16th May 1878, the crew were all saved. An Inquiry suspended the master's certificate for six months after concluding that he had been reckless in attempting to enter the port at night without a pilot).
  6. 1877 6 0 Not Recorded UK "A diver suffocated. A diver engaged at Holyhead harbour met with fearful death last week. A number of men have been for employed a wreck.." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Edinburgh Evening News/The British Newspaper Archive
  7. 1875 6 7 Keith William UK 8 S/S Air "Death of a diver underwater by drowning (Special Telegram) William Keith, 35 years of age, a professional diver (Or divers labourer) residing in Torry, employed by the Aberdeen harbour board, at the point of the pier laying some moorings. Descended in his diving dress on Saturday about noon, and reaching the bottom, depth 25'..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph/Dundee Courier/The British Newspaper Archive
  8. 1872 6 25 Warner George UK S/S Air Melancholy Fatal Accident to a Diver. It in our painful duty this week to report one of those melancholy accidents, which fortunately are not of frequent occurrence, viz., the death by drowning of a diver, named George Warner, while following his occupation. It appears that the unfortunate young man was on Tuesday last engaged at a ship sunk off Dungeness, and while searching in the cabin for a sum of money amounting to about £800, supposed to have been left there; the air pipe suddenly burst, the result being, of course, that the communication of air to the deceased was instantly cut off. Mr. Philip Warner, a brother of the deceased, was attending him, by whom the bursting of the pipe was felt, and he immediately took measures to raise him to the boat; this was accomplished in about a minute and a half, and on his being dragged on board he exclaimed “ Oh, my poor head; I am dying' and then breathed his last. The body was taken to Dover, where an inquest was held, the jury returning a verdict of “Accidental Death." On Wednesday the corpse was brought home to Whitstable for interment. The deceased was a very steady young man, and his untimely end in lamented by a large circle of friends and relatives. He was a son of the well known diver, Mr. Philip Warner, who, as many of our readers are aware, was employed for several years in the construction of the harbour of refuge at Alderney. Deceased was twenty-six years of age, and was, we understand, shortly about to be married. Reported in the Whitstable Times
  9. 1854 6 1 Tope, First entry, the incident John USA Wells, Gowan and Green 12 S/S Air We learn that Mr. John Tope, one of the divers employed by Messrs. Wells, Gowan & Green, in their operations on the Lake, lost his life while experimenting with a sub-marine armor, a few days since. The circumstances attending this lamentable casualty, as related to us by Mr. Green, are substantially as follows: It appears that Mr. Tope was desirous of testing a sub-marine armor preparatory to commencing operations on the wrecks which the Company design raising this Summer, and on Friday afternoon last, in company with three others, started from Cattaraugus Creek in a small vessel of about twenty tons burden, and proceeded some distance from the shore, where the water was about forty feet deep. Mr. Tope descended into the water three times. The first and second time he went down some fifteen or twenty feet, each time signalizing to those above to raise him. In both instances he remarked that the foul air did not escape fast enough to allow him to breathe freely. Previous to going down, the third time detached the spring from the valve which allows the impure air to escape from the helmet, and desired the man who held the signal line to observe carefully when he should reach the bottom, (some forty feet) and be prepared to answer his signals. He then entered the water, and had descended about thirty feet, when those above thought the armor felt unusually heavy. The signal line was immediately jerked to ascertain whether anything was wrong, but receiving no answering signal, the diver was immediately raised from the water. New York Times
  10. 1854 6 1 Tope, Second entry, incident response John USA Wells, Gowan and Green 12 S/S Air On opening the helmet, the unfortunate occupant of the armor was found to be quite dead, presenting a horrid spectacle, blood oozing from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Detaching the spring from the escape-valve prevented the air from inflating the armor below the neck of the diver; and when it is recollected that at the depth of thirty feet the pressure of the water is equal to fifteen pounds to the square inch, and hence there must have been a pressure of at least ten tons upon the lower extremities of the diver; and this tremendous pressure forced the vital fluid to the head, bursting the blood vessels, and thus causing immediate death. Not more than a minute and a half elapsed from the time he entered the water, to the time he was hoisted upon the deck of the vessel. The pressure of the water upon the lower part of the armor, on his two previous trials, caused a slight rush of blood to the diver’s head, causing a dizziness, which he imagined was produced by foul air, and he insisted upon descending again with the spring detached from the escape-valve, which be said would allow a free current of air to pass in and out of the armor; but a moment’s reflection will convince anyone that this alone was the cause of the melancholy casualty. The apparatus he used on this occasion was in complete working order, and one of the most perfect ever manufactured. New York Times
  11. 1854 6 1 Tope, third Entry, the investigation John USA Wells, Gowan and Green 12 S/S Air The deceased was a diver of five years’ experience on the Atlantic sea-board, and recently came here from Boston, where he leaves a wife and four children to mourn his death. Those who were with him during the day say that he appeared to have a premonition that some catastrophe would happen to him but could not be dissuaded from trying the experiment, in which he acted on his own responsibility, Mr. Green being in this city at the time. The accident at the wreck of the Erie last year, when Macdonald lost his life, was similar to this, though the victim in that case had but little experience as a diver. Too much care cannot be observed by those who follow this hazardous business. It requires cool judgment and great presence of mind on the part of the diver. Mr. Green informs us he has often experienced the same sensations while in the water, but always rose promptly to the surface until the dizziness had vanished and the armor thoroughly inflated. As long as the air circulates throughout the armor there is no danger to be apprehended. The body of the deceased below the neck appeared as if the blood had been entirely forced out of it, presenting an appearance as white and clear as a piece of sculptured marble. Since writing the above, we learn that Mr. Tope had connected a length of gutta percha hose to the helmet at the place occupied by the escape valve, one end of the hose, remaining above the surface of' the water. This was an improvement of his own which he desired to test, and before going down the last time he had taken the valve out entirely, though he was told frequently that such an experiment would prove fatal to him, and was warned by Mr. Green not to attempt it. On learning of the accident, Mr. Green had the body brought to this city, and Messrs. Wells & Gowan deposited it in a metallic burial case, and Mr. Wells proceeded with it to Boston last evening. The unfortunate man was held in high estimation by his employers, and his loss is deeply regretted. New York Times
  12. 1744 6 22 Day John UK 40 Submarine Day was an English Carpenter/wheelwright. With the financial support of Christopher Blake, an English gambler, Day built a wooden "diving chamber" without an engine. He attached his invention to the deck of a 50 ton sloop named the Maria, which Blake had purchased for £340. The sloop's hold contained 10 tons of ballast, and two 10-ton weights were attached beneath the keel which could be released from inside the diving chamber. An additional 20 tons of ballast would be loaded on the Maria after Day had been locked inside the diving chamber. Day bet Blake that he and his boat could descend to a depth of 130 feet (40 m) and stay underwater for 12 hours. On June 22, 1774, the Maria was towed to a location north of Drakes Island (off Plymouth), Day took a candle, water and biscuits on board. The boat was equipped with a hammock for the passenger. After the boat was locked, the weights were loaded and the boat sank forever into the depths. Day had the calculation of the trim completely wrong. There is speculation whether Day died from asphyxiation, hypothermia or just drowned following catastrophic structural failure of the Maria and/or the diving chamber due to water pressure. This incident is believed to be the first recorded fatal accident involving a submarine. Wikipedia
  13. 2013 6 14 Gabon Sigma Diving Systems 3-6m S/S Air French National, aged 28. Working on an old unused jetty to remove sheet piling with exothermic rods in the harbour of Port Gentil. Diver trapped in sand, buried up to chest. Had to be lifted out with crane using chain brothers around his chest. Not breathing on recovery to surface, revived and medivaced to Johannesburg, then later, on to France. No details known of his current condition. Various emails.
  14. 2014 6 4 Kwok Khee Khoon (Edmund) Singapore Underwater Contractors PTY SCUBA Aged 36,one of a three man team taking photos of weld repairs (Replacement anodes inside a sea chest, external grill removed for access into the seachest) under a comtainer ship near the Marina South Pier (Eastern holding anchorage) at around 18:00 hours when cooling pumps were started up and he was sucked into a pipe inlet inside the sea chest. Had been diving one month. ministry of Manpower (MOM) undertaking an investigation. Straits Times
  15. 2014 6 10 Rodriguez Ernesto USA Ric-Man Construction Aged 45, construction diver working on a pipe underwater in a roadside drainage ditch near Indian Trace and Bonaventure Boulevard in Weston, Florida, 'became entagled in cables and trapped underwater'. he was rescued at third attempt and taken to Cleveland clinic aound 13:00 hours but pronounced dead. Reported in the Sun Sentinel. An ISHN report dated mid December 2014 stated:- "A 45-year-old untrained diver died June 10, 2014 while completing surface-supplied air diving during underwater activities for the City of Weston, Florida. OSHA’s investigation into the fatality resulted in Ric-Man International Inc. being cited for 19 safety violations, including one willful, for failure to provide cave-in protection for employees working inside an excavation approximately 12-feet deep. From the company's website:- "At Ric-Man, we have cultivated a philosophy that promotes an environment free of accidents and injuries. We are dedicated to provide a high level of safety in the construction industry which includes partnering with the insurance industry through training, education and guidance. In our Industry, safety is measured by an “Experience Modification Rate” (EMR), it is the industry standard the calculation of workers compensation rates. This standard measures a particular company's occurrence and gravity of accidents and injuries. The industry average is 1.0. Ric-Man’s modifier has consistently been below this average. We are dedicated to providing a safe working environment for our employees, our clients and the general public, with our weekly tool box safety meetings, quarterly supervisors continuing safety classes, and our company wide safety classes three times a year. We are prepared to provide our employees with the tools, expertise, and means to reduce risks throughout or worksites." OSHA went on to say that threir standards require that all trenches and excavation sites 5 feet or deeper be protected against sidewall collapses. Protection may be provided through shoring of trench walls, sloping of the soil at a shallow angle or by using a protective trench box. OSHA has created a National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation. OSHA cited the company four times previously for lack of cave-in protection and excavation hazards.Thirteen serious violations were issued to Ric-Man International for failure to ensure workers who performed diving operations were experienced and trained to perform underwater tasks safely; provide divers with a backup air supply, safety harness and two-way voice communication for emergencies; and to plan and assess risks associated with diving, including underwater conditions, obstructions and visibility. The company also failed to provide dive team members with CPR training. Proposed penalties total $161,000
  16. 2016 6 6 Long Cpt. Bradley USA SAR Firefighter 25m SCUBA Aged 28, volunteer firefighter and rescue diver with the Sherrills Ford-Terrell fire department diving with two others searching for the body a man drowned a day earlier in Lake Norman. Some kind of incident underwater, two surfaced and taken to hospital, his body was recovered soon after, declared dead at site. Later reported that he left bottom and headed for the surface before signalling that he had run out of air, appeared to panic ripping of his own and another divers masks, the other diver surfaced safely, Long's body recovered later . Reported by WBTV
  17. 2016 6 7 Hill Charles A USA 3m SCUBA Aged 63, Diving with his son for golf balls at the Dogwood Hills Golf Course, Waverly, Ohio, body recovered 50 feet from shore in about 8 feet of water. Reported in the NYPost
  18. 2016 6 13 Not Reported USA Cleaning the hull of a boat at the Fort Myers Marina, found floating in the Marina at Edison Ford an hour later, initial reports indicate that he may have been electrocuted from faulty wiring from the boats supply hooked up to the shoreside mains supply. No other details. Reported by news-press. com
  19. 2017 6 14 Sango Mervin UAE Atlantis Marine SCUBA Ex-Navy diver, hull cleaning the vessel 'Oil Runner' (Panama flagged crude oil tanker, 270m x 46 m) off Fujairah, evening dive (20:00 - 21:00), heavy swell, current running, apparently had a problem and disappeared from colleagues view. Later found floating on the surface, 'lips exploded and tongue bitten'. PC
  20. 2017 6 18 Sakunphong Lakkhana Thailand SCUBA Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) overseeing a team of 25 volunteer divers installing an artificial reef in Kon Kai Bay, 35 year old woman surfaced from a dive but lost consciousness before swimming back to the boat, taken onboard, no pulse, unconscious, given CPR and taken to Chalong pier and on to Chalong hospital but declared dead. No other details. Phuket Times
  21. 2017 6 22 Naung Ko Saw Myanmar An-na-wa 40m Aged 45, Salvage of a crashed Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) Y-8 (Chinese built (Shaanxi) four engine turboprop military transport plane) off Launglon Township (13 miles from Dawai). Removing nets from the tail and trying to locate the black box, at least two, possibly three successive dives with partner Ko Thant Zin Oo, surfaced and prepared to eat, Ko Saw Naung collapsed, Ko Thant Zin Oo paralysed legs/hands. 'Local villagers' took them both down to 60 feet, Ko Saw Naung recovered consciousness. Recovered to surface and both passed out, possibly 6 further attempts at in water treatment 'I recovered conscious, he did not' said Ko Thant Zin Oo. Taken ashore and given three further therapeutic treatments, Ko Thant Zin Oo recovered in hospital but Ko Saw Nauntg died. Reported in the Myanmar times
  22. 2017 6 27 Gorgonio-Ixba Luis Alberto USA SCUBA Aged 34, working on a 164' luxury yacht 'Honey' docked at the Old Port Cove Marina (North Palm beach, Florida), was underwater cleaning the hull 'when someone or something inexplicably turned on the ship’s bow thrusters'. He was drawn in head first and died instantly. two daughters, one aged 6 months. http://www.wpbf.com/article/diver-cleaning-yacht-bottom-killed-when-propeller-turned-on/10231016
  23. 2017 6 30 Jiminez Uceda Jose Spain Fisherman Chamber Aged 61, Red Coral diving with 25 year old from the vessel 'Trepa' near Cadaques (Spain), the pair were undergoing surface decompression in a chamber on the boat when there was an internal fire, the 25 year old survived with serious burns and was brought ashore by the third man on the boat (his father). reported by ViladeRoses
  24. 1993 6 4 Lechauve Eric France Military Rebreather Aged 25, double fatality with Stephane Bengloan, night training exercise (Simulated attack) in Brest harbour. Both found entangled under a pontoon with empty cylinders. In 1996, 5 men (2 admirals, a Captain, the course lecturer and course director) were charged. Outcome unclear. Reported by www.liberation.fr
  25. 1993 6 4 Bengloan Stephane France Military Rebreather Aged 26, double fatality with Eric Lechauve, night training exercise (Simulated attack) in Brest harbour. Both found entangled under a pontoon with empty cylinders. In 1996, 5 men (2 admirals, a Captain, the course lecturer and course director) were charged. Outcome unclear. Reported by www.liberation.fr: https://goo.gl/vGWrML
  26. 2018 6 23 Firdaus Mohamed Singapore Marine Diving & Engineering Vopak Terminals SCUBA A 27-year-old commercial diver died after he was struck by a concrete pile while working in the waters off Pulau Sebarok on Saturday afternoon (Jun 23). Mohamed Firdaus was working as a commercial diver for Marine Diving & Engineering (MDE), which specialises in underwater services including marine and underwater construction. On the day of the accident, Firdaus was working on a project developed by Vopak Terminals Singapore on Pulau Sebarok’s Jetty 2. The project's occupier is HSL Constructor, which had engaged MDE for the project. "Two divers were in the water, installing brackets onto a concrete pile, when one of the workers was struck by a concrete pile," said the Ministry of Manpower. Firdaus was unconscious when taken to National University Hospital, where he died from his injuries, added the police, who received a call for assistance at 5.13pm. The police are investigating the unnatural death. Advertisement MOM has stopped all works at the worksite and is currently investigating the incident. In an email to Channel NewsAsia, Vopak Terminals confirmed that a fatal accident happened at its terminal in the port. "We are deeply saddened by this accident. We, jointly with our main contractor and his employer, are providing his family with all possible aid and assistance they need during this difficult time," said Vopak Terminals. Vopak Terminals also said it has started "a thorough investigation to find the root cause" of the accident. On Sunday afternoon, representatives from MDE, HSL and Vopak attended Firdaus' funeral, MDE and HSL said in a joint statement. "No words nor gesture can replace the loss of Firdaus, and we will certainly be here for his loved ones. We truly share the grief of his family, friends and colleagues," said Mr Masahiro Aoyagi, managing director of MDE. "This is the first fatal accident ever experienced by MDE since our incorporation 38 years ago and we are doing our utmost to understand what happened," he added. All related parties are currently working closely with the authorities, the companies said in the statement. Pulau Sebarok is an oil storage and refueling port at one of the southern islands of Singapore. Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mohamed-firdaus-diver-27-dies-waters-pulau-sebarok-concrete-10464340
  27. 2019 6 21 Wingard Steven F. Dahowa Hydro power plant, Greenwich, USA Commercial Diver Systems SS Air GREENWICH — State Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred Friday morning at a hydropower plant on the Batten Kill that claimed the life of a commercial diver. The incident was reported at the former Dahowa Hydro power plant off county Route 53, near the hamlet of Middle Falls. The diver, Steven F. Wingard, 25, of Falls Village, Connecticut, died while underwater in a pool below the hydro plant. State Police said Wingard was working for a company identified as Commercial Diver Systems to clean an underwater drain valve at the hydro plant when some sort of accident occurred. How he came to be injured was still under investigation Friday afternoon, State Police Senior Investigator Robert Stampfli said. Stampfli said Wingard was the only diver in the water, and was connected to a crew on land via an “umbilical” cord with an oxygen line. “There was some sort of event that caused them to pull him back up” and he was unconscious, Stampfli said. Exactly what occurred remained under investigation later Friday, Stampfli said. But there was no indication of foul play. The accident was reported just after 9:30 a.m. Easton-Greenwich Rescue Squad members and Middle Falls firefighters responded, but efforts to revive the man with CPR were unsuccessful. Dahowa Hydro sold the 10.5-megawatt plant to Gravity Renewables earlier this year, according to an article on Renewable Energy World’s website. Numerous streams and rivers in the region were running very high Friday after Thursday’s rain, and the Batten Kill was running at nearly triple its median flow for June 21 as of Friday morning. Stampfli said it was unclear whether the drain issue was related to the rain or was regularly scheduled maintenance. Julie Smith-Galvin, a spokeswoman for Gravity Renewables, said the company was trying to figure out what occurred as well. “Our thoughts are with Mr. Wingard’s family, friends and loved ones,” she said in an email. “We appreciate the work of all those involved in responding to this morning’s emergency call. We are working closely and cooperatively with local authorities to investigate what caused today’s tragedy.” https://poststar.com/news/local/updated-diver-dies-at-batten-kill-hydropower-plant/article_75176eb1-cc99-53dd-9963-cbc3657242e4.html
  28. 2020 6 21 Pybus Andrew John GOM Subsea 7 Sat Andy Pybus (born December 15th, 1960 ) British national, sat diver when lockout to the bell on board DSV Seven Pegasus Liberian flag working in USA waters at GOM suffered a cardiovascular issue and died. Under investigation
  29. 2013 5 26 Harrison Okene Nigeria West African Ventures (Subsidiary of Sea Trucks) 30 Topsides The Jacson 4 sank in heavy weather off Escravos during a tanker towing operation. The cook was found alive in an air pocket in the upside down wreck on the seabed in 30 or 35 msw by divers 82 hourds later. He was rescued by DCN divers and recovered to the saturation diving system, successfully decompressed (32 hours), bend watch and then flown ashore by helicopter to his family. Longstreath
  30. 2013 5 26 Jacson 4 AHT Nigeria West African Ventures (Subsidiary of Sea Trucks) Topsides Tug, sank in heavy weather while towing a Chevron tanker off Escravos, Nigeria with the loss of 11 lives. One man, Okene Harrison, the cook, was found alive in an air pocket inside the hull 82 hours later and was rescued by divers. Longstreath
  31. 2013 5 13 Houston Andrew Australia SCUBA Aged 51, alleged to have received infringement notices for poaching abalone in 1989 and 1992, went missing on Sunday afternoon, his body was found by police divers the day after 50 metres from the beach attached to a 30kg bag of abalone. He had no abalone licence, the daily limit for abalone was 5kg and it was out of season. Abalone poaching in Victoria carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years and a $150,000 fine. Herald Sun
  32. 2012 5 22 Deep Sat Dive USA USN Saturation Naval Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU), Panama city, Florida, training dive during testing of the 26 million dollar US Navy Saturation Fly-away Diving System. 4 day sat, 11 day decompression with a 6 man team to 1000' (Reported as "the first USN dive to 1,000 feet since 1974" though USN divers are reported as having dived to 1,148' using the Mk I Deep Dive System in 1975, NEDU to 1,800' in the Ocean Simulator Facility in 1979 and the Duke Medical centre ran a chamber dive to 2,250 in 1981, TC). wjhg.com
  33. 2012 5 17 Cancino Manuel Gomez Gonzalo Mexico SCUBA Aged 28, poaching for sea cucumber 22 miles off Progreso (Yucatan) with two companions off a 25' boat. Inexperienced, probably did not use decompression stops, died before he got to hospital. Autopsy stated death due to decompression illness. Progresohoy.com
  34. 2012 5 12 Thakur Ramesh Singapore Cutech Marine Services Pty SCUBA Aged 35, ex Indian Navy diving instructor (Left the Navy August 2011, had been working for Cutech for several months) from Kanyakumari (Kerala, South India). Hull cleaning on the VLCC "Kokkari" 4 km Southeast of the South Marine Pier. Singapore Maritime and Port Authority received a report that a diver had gone missing at 14:55, a search failed to locate the diver. Married, two children aged 5 and 7, Reported by AsiaOne
  35. 2012 5 5 Stoyanov (or Dimitrov) Radoslav Bulgaria Hydroremont 7 Commercial diver with 3 years expeience, from Varna, aged 29, Kozloduy nuclear power plant. inspecting a shaft between units 5 and 6, lost audio at 09:40, body recovered one and a half hours later, reported to have both audio and lifeline, no explanation for protracted recovery, death certificate states cause of death as 'myocardial infarcation' and that death was not due to an accident but due to heart disease. Rumours of a cover up, running pumps, diver being trapped by differential pressure and injuries to diver denied by authorities, circumstances unclear. Focus News Agency
  36. 2012 5 4 Dzul Felix Jesus Canul Mexico Fisherman SCUBA Commercial sea Cucumber fishing out of Puerto Chicxulub (Yucatan Penninsula), reported chest pains, taken ashore died in hospital (CMA - Centro Medico de las Americas in Merida). Reported as death due to decompression illness. Progresohoy.com
  37. 2012 5 3 O'Malley Steven Germany SubC Partner 2 British, Aged 48. Diving on the Alpha Ventus windfarm (28 miles north of Borkum in about 30 metres water depth) from a Danish DSV, body taken ashore in Esbjerg. Reported as becoming unresponsive/ill in the water, recovered to deck but failed to respond to treatment. Initial reports indicated a possible heart attack. Reported in the Scotsman plus German Press
  38. 2011 5 25 Chavez Angel Lopez Mexico Construcciones Mare Aged 29, diving at the Ensada Marine Terminal. Reports indicate that the Federal Department of Labour laumched an investigation following an accident that was hidden from the authorities and that at that time the construction company had not allowed inspectors from the Ministry to enter the site (Companies are required to notify the authorities within 72 hours, the accident happened on the 25th May and apparently as of 4th August - the date of the report - authorities had neither been informed nor allowed access to the site). Autopsy listed causes of death as due to rib and spine injuries, lacerations to the chest, Accident occurred during cutting operations, injuries caused by a falling metal bar hitting the diver in the chest. No other details. AFN/Ensenada.net etc
  39. 2011 5 25 Not recorded Nigeria Subsea 7 S/S Air Pipeline intervention in shallow water from the "Acergy Hawk", unbolting a pig receiver on a pipeline replacement project. Using air bags, as the pig receiver was freed from the pipeline end flange it rose to the full extent of the hold back line trapping the divers leg resulting in a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. Although weaknesses were identified in the procedures and RA process, essentially this incidents highlights the risks of of using airbags in shallow water and near zero visibility where the rigging and airbag cannot be fully monitored. Source:- A good and well circulated Oil Company report
  40. 2011 5 24 Barbieto Jeffrey USA Grove Farm Fish Poi / Hukilau Food SCUBA Aged 41, Honolulu Fire Department Firefighter and part time commercial diver working at a fish farm 2 miles offshore Pearl Harbour. US Navy vessel 'Salvor' responded to a 2:30 pm emergency call and was on site in 5 minutes. The diver was given hyperbaric treatment onboard before being transferred onshore to the Pali Momi Medical Centre where he was declared deceased. Honolulu medical Examiner's office confirmed the cause of death as accidental drowning. 6 months later HIOSH proposed $50,000 penalties against Hukilau foods on the grounds that the death was preventable and that equipment and procedures were inadequate. 19 citations: 1 Failure to prohibit a dive team member from diving during the period that the diver was sufficiently impaired as to adversely affect his/her safety and health. 2 Failure to develop and maintain a safety practices manual, which shall be made available at the dive location to each dive team member. 3 Failure to inquire into the dive team member’s current state of physical fitness prior to each assignment and failure to indicate to each dive team member the procedure for reporting physical problems or adverse physiological effects during and after the dive. 4 Failure to provide a means for exiting the water that extends below the water surface and a means for assisting an injured diver from the water. 5 Failure to provide decompression, repetitive, and no-decompression tables at the dive site. 6 Failure to maintain a depth-time profile, including when appropriate, any breathing gas changes for each diver during the dive including decompression. 7 Failure to check the physical condition of the diver after each dive, including instructing the diver to report any physical problems or adverse physiological effects as well as the location of a decompression chamber which is ready for use. 8 Failure to provide a decompression chamber capable of recompressing the diver at the surface to a minimum of 165 fsw (6 ATA) at the dive location. 9 Failure to limit SCUBA diving at depths deeper than 130 fsw. 10 Failure to limit SCUBA diving at depths deeper than 100 fsw, or outside the no-decompression limits, where no decompression chamber was ready for use. 11 Failure to provide a clean standby diver to assist a diver in the water at any time during the diving operation. 12 Failure to require a diver to be accompanied by another diver (buddy system), maintaining continuous visual contact during the diving operations, or alternatively, line tending from the surface. 13 Failure to provide a diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply for each diver consisting of a manual reserve (J valve) or an independent reserve cylinder. 14 Failure to provide every diver with a buoyancy compensator device, aka BCD and require the diver to use the BCD for SCUBA diving. 15 Failure to provide and maintain a list of emergency contact numbers for an operational decompression chamber, accessible hospitals, available physicians, available means of transportation and the nearest U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center at the dive location. 16 Failure to record and maintain accurate dive logs as required by the HIOSH Standards. 17 Failure to record and maintain depth-time and breathing gas profiles, decompression table designation, and elapsed time since last pressure exposure if less than 24 hours or repetitive dive designation for each dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 100 fsw. 18 Failure to maintain records for each dive in which decompression sickness was suspected or symptoms were evident. 19 Failure to maintain records for each equipment modification, repair, test, calibration or maintenance service. Reported in the Pacific Bulletin
  41. 2011 5 23 Strakele Sean USA 11 SCUBA Aged 37, Diving for lobsters out of Provincetown off the commercial fishing vessel "Chase" in the vicinity of Race Point Lighthouse. Entered the water at 06:30, failed to surface an hour later. Diving solo on single SCUBA cylinder. Coastguard searches called off after two days. Body located the day after in 56' of water by another lobster diver from the fishing vessel 'Mad Dog' in the same area he had dived in, half a mile south of the lighthouse. Reported as 'drowned'. Cape Cod Times
  42. 2011 5 15 Palma Miguel Angel Cupul Mexico 15 SCUBA Aged 60, 25 miles offshore from Merida (Yucatan penninsula) collecting sea cucumber, rescued alive and taken ashore for treatment but died. Causes reported as cerebral anoxia/acute decompression illness. Reported by Sipse.com
  43. 2011 5 14 Cetz Joshua Mexico Aged 37, sea cucumber harvesting off Celustun from the vessel 'Dick Tracy', transferred to chamber ashore but died. Reported as the third diver to die of DCI this season (which finished on the 15th May). Reported by Por Esto
  44. 2011 5 9 Not Recorded Spain During an audit in Algeciras, a diving contractor discussed 5 incidents that had occurred over the previous 18 months with another diving contractor in the port. As the author commented, “it shows how much we are missing and how important it is to use competent diving contractors�:- 1 Dive on a tanker at night. Tender comes up on divers umbilical and recovers hat and bailout. Diver has jettisoned his equipment and swum to the shore (established later). Algerciras port closed in while search is carried out for diver. 2 Dive carried out following 30’ decompression profile. Diver had worked at 60’ for an hour and profile not adjusted for deeper depth. Diver collapses on deck after dive. Paralysis of lower limbs, tongue and visual disturbances. Type 2 decompression sickness, diver evacuated to chamber to Malaga hospital, 3 day treatment. 3 Diver carrying out propeller polish on Tanker – propeller starts while diver working and pushes him away – ripped shoulder and leg muscles. 4 Diver carrying out our hull scrub wearing Aga mask – tangle with hull scrub brushes/ loose rope and Aga locating straps (spider). Mask ripped from divers head.  Diver makes it to surface – partial drowning and hospitalized ( 3 months off work). 5 Three bailout delivery whips blow off the mask on the same day. PC
  45. 2011 5 5 Not Recorded Brazil Navy Diver Navy 6 man team on a training exercise on Petrobras platform 'Cherne I'. Initial reports indicate surface supplied air and that they pulled up the umbilical but the diver was missing. Had a bailout but appears to have ditched his gear. Body recovered early hours of the follwing day. Waiting on further details. PC
  46. 2011 5 1 Makuch John USA Police diver SCUBA Aged 56, collapsed during a training exercise at Port Huron YMCA, 'massive Heart Attack', other team members (trained paramedics) were unable to save him. He had joined the St. Clair County Sherriff's Office dive team in 1991 and had worked his way up through the ranks to Assistant Chief. First recorded fatality since the team was founded in 1969. Reported in the Daily Tribune
  47. 2010 5 31 Not Recorded Greece Press report stating that “a diver working for Hellenic Petroleum in Aspropyrgos (West of Athens) died while working on repairs to a water tank� reported as lost consciousness underwater, taken to hospital but did not respond to treatment. No other details. Ekathimerini.com
  48. 2010 5 27 Orellana Luis Alberto Romero Chile 7 SCUBA Iquique, Chile. Shellfish diver with 30 years diving experience, Luis Alberto Romero Orellana, died yesterday at 11 am in a diving accident. At the time of the incident Luis Alberto was doing scrap recovery work for a fishing company. His teammates gave notice of the accident via mobile to the Maritime authorities, the patrol vessel "Defender" and a rescue RIB/divers of Harbor Master recovered the diver's body. Diving solo, no stand-by. Reported by gspbuceo
  49. 2010 5 25 Costa Dr. Paolo Italy 107 Rebreather Aged 60, dive team of 4 people filming for Rai 3 programme "Geo and Geo" on Sardinia (Oliena, Nuoro) in an underwater spring (Su Gologone). Reported as becoming ill (Heart attack) during the ascent, failed to respond to treatment. A companion who assisted him up was treated for omitted decompression. Vip.it
  50. 2010 5 23 Eves Stephen James UK Topsides Aged 26, car crash on his way to work at Connah's Quay at 07:35 on a Sunday Morning. Reported in the Liverpool News
  51. 2010 5 22 Smith Gary USA SCUBA Aged 61, founding member and chief officer of the Lacey Township Dive Team, diving off the 'Dina Dee', a 42' charter vessel out of Barnegat Light, not clear if it was a Search and Rescue dive or training dive (He was an SAR diver Instructor), surfaced unresponsive, did not respond to treatment. Atlantic City Press.
  52. 2010 5 18 Carvalho Sgt. Andre Luiz dos Santos Brazil Navy Navy diver, Rio Naval base on the Island of Mocangue, went missing during a diving exercise, body found by SAR team three hours later. No details
  53. 2010 5 3 Blake Petty Officer Craig Afghanistan Canadian Navy Topsides Aged 37, father of two, Navy clearance diver with the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic based in Nova Scotia, seconded to Afghanistan because of his mine clearance training, killed by a remote operated roadside bomb as he and colleagues were walking back to the Sperwan Ghar forward Operations Base having successfully defused another IED in Panjwai, 25 miles South west of Kandahar. Wife and two sons, had only been in Afghanistan a couple of weeks, he was the first sailor to die in Afghanistan, killed the day before the Canadian navy celebrated its centennial. He was the 143 member of the Canadian forces to be killed there since 2002. (Included for information, a diver, but not working as a diver so not counted as a diving fatality TC). Reported in the Canadian Press
  54. 2009 5 24 Spencer Carl Greece 120 Rebreather British, aged 37. National Geographic Expedition filming the wreck of the 'Britannic' (Sister vessel to the 'Titanic'). British Hospital ship sank by a mine in 1916 with the loss of 30 lives off the Greek island of Kea. Reported to have surfaced rapidly, unconscious, flown by military super puma to Athens Naval Hospital, but did not respond to treatment
  55. 2009 5 20 Sheffield David Anthony USA SCUBA Aged 44, volunteer member of Itawamba County dive team, searching Buttahatchie River for a missing teenager, spent two hours in the water, surfaced saying that he was unable to breath, taken onboard the boat and transferred to hospital but failed to respond to treatment, declared dead on arrival. Fatal heart attack. The body of the teenager was found three days later half a mile down river from where he disappeared. Media reports, PSD diver
  56. 2009 5 18 Not Recorded Finland Aged 24 or 34, Bridge on a (hydro-electric?) dam at Ilomantsi in North Karelia, underwater repair works, trapped by differential pressure, body was dug out. No other details, reported in Journals Archive
  57. 2009 5 17 Osburn Steven Dale USA 18 SCUBA Aged 58, member of Santa Cruz Underwater Recovery team, routine training dive in Patagonia lake, lost contact with team, located after 8 minutes, unconscious, brought to surface, failed to respond to treatment.
  58. 2009 5 7 Shellenberger USN Eric F USA USN Aged 36, SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) team 1 based at Pearl City, Hawaii, very experienced US Navy SEAL, night training exercise in Puget Sound, “encountered difficulty in the water and did an emergency ascent�, treated in a DDC but failed to respond to treatment
  59. 2009 5 5 Smith Dewey USA Aquarius Underwater Laboratory Rebreather American, aged 36, Scientist working at the Aquarius underwater laboratory (Florida Keys), operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, (part of NOAA) at the laboratory (a teaching facility), 'assisting military divers with a saturation mission', found unconscious on the seabed, did not respond to treatment, autopsy reported as inconclusive.
  60. 2009 5 4 Holt David C USA DIT 12 SCUBA American, aged 37, father of 2 undergoing commercial diver training. Harbour training dive at pier 66, Seattle. 4 divers in the water, diver surfaced, then sank, found on the bottom after 10 to 15 minutes, CPR, unconscious, taken to Harbor View Hospital, Seattle, critical in hospital, died several days later when taken off life support. No details.
  61. 2009 5 4 Wilson Christopher USA Veolia 63 Saturation American, aged 38, Vermillion area, Stingray pipeline, DSV Kingfisher, floating a pipeline 10 miles south of Sabine pass, oversized air bag, no hold back, inverter line tied to inadequate weight, failed air bag rigging, dragged from depth to 22 metres.
  62. 2009 5 1 Pesce and Martinizi Vincenza USA 8 Topsides Ocean Hyperbaric Neurologic Centre, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, 62 year old Italian woman with her 4 year old grandson, Francesco, undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment in a one man 'clam shell' chamber (Built by Vickers, 1967). they had flown over from Italy to get hyperbaric oxygen treatment (not available in Italy) for the boy who had cerebral palsy 100% O2 at 1.75 atm. 20 minutes into treatment, internal chamber fire. Decompressed in 90 seconds, 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 90% of their bodies, the woman died the following day, the boy died 6 weeks later. Ignition source may have been an internal speaker (no matches or electronic equipment inside the chamber)
  63. 2009 5 0 Not recorded GOM 61 S/S Mixed Gas Cutting up of the wreck of the "High Island III" "There we were making gas dive after gas dive burning box after box of Brocos cutting up a bent and twisted pile of drilling derrick. The diver had rigged up to a big pile of I-beam and angle iron and was cutting it free of bottom. "up on the load, cut cut cut; up on the load, cut cut cut. Diver says, "OK get up on the load it's free to the surface." and goes back to the class II bell to watch the load come up. As it clears bottom I see what looks like a huge (20 to 30ft) cloud coming up under this pile of scrap. No shit, this was all this gas trapped in the scrap pile! The diver asks me "What the hell is that?" I respond knowingly, "The bomb you were building." I never would have thought that could happen".
  64. 2008 5 23 Garcia Pol Carlos Spain Tinsa SA 30 S/S Air Aged 33, from Madrid, one of two diving supervisors in a 6 man team working on the dam on the river Agueda 5 km South of Cuidad Rodrigo (Salamanca, Western Spain) since February (4 months) on contract to OSEPSA - Obras y Servicios Publicos Sociedad Anonima - for CHD - Hydrographic Confederation of the river Duero . Ten minutes into a dive dredging with an airlift at 09:30, reported as stopped talking to topsides, stand-by diver located the diver at depth, unconcious, recovered to surface but failed to respond to CPR treatment. Band mask pulled off, drowned. Reported in Terra Noticias, plus PC
  65. 2008 5 23 Not Recorded Yemen Muhibbah Baltic Taucher Topsides German, aged 42, deck Supervisor – (Was he the diving supervisor? TC) was fatally injured on the Muhibbah B9 Barge. Demobilising an air spread, attempting to remove an air receiver tank from the deck of the barge with a 150T crane. The signalman signalled the crane operator to lift the vessel. As he was lifting the vessel it did not move or rise. The signalman instructed the crane operator to stop lifting (but not slack tension) and the Deck Supervisor started checking on what was the problem. As he was checking around the air receiverl it suddenly popped loose and struck the Deck Supervisor in the head causing major injuries to the back of his head.
  66. 2008 5 22 Rudakov Roman Maldives Touring Maldives SCUBA Russian tourist, aged 41, diving off the “Baani Adventurer� died from contaminated air (reported as 150ppm CO in his tank), 9 others ill with 80ppm CO in their tanks. Complaints from previous day and requests to change filter ignored (cheap none-CO absorbing filter fitted on compressor), Medical O2 cylinder onboard dive boat was empty.
  67. 2008 5 15 Not Recorded Brazil 15 S/S Air Two divers in the water on KM Bandmasks, both lost air supply, one ditched bandmask and tried to surface, held down by umbilical, drowned. The second diver maintained bandmask and waited for air supply to be re-established and was brought to the surface in the basket. No bailouts, stand-by not immediately ready plus other factors.
  68. 2008 5 12 Smith Othel D USA International Diving Services S/S Air American, aged 24, one year out of diving school, died while working in a potable water storage tank in Paris, Texas. International Diving Services of Arlington, TX. "Pumps still running, sucked onto an inlet" Possibly no bailout or stand-by rig, body recovered by fire brigade (on SCUBA!)
  69. 2008 5 10 Not recorded Sri Lanka SCUBA Tamil Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan navy ship "Invisible" with an underwater explosion at about 2:15 a.m. and the vessel sank, said navy spokesman Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake. The 213-foot (65-meter) craft was empty of cargo, he said. "We suspect the blast was carried out by a suicide diver" he said. BBC News.
  70. 2007 5 19 Hopkins Ronald Australia State Emergency Services SCUBA Aged 54, volunteer who drowned on a flooded boat training exercise in the Murray River at Mildura, body recovered the following day by NSW police divers the day after. Victoria State Emergency Services were convicted and fined $75,000 and ordered to undertake a thorough and regular review of it's workplace safety practices. Quote “Failing to ensure a person other than an employee was not exposed to risk�, regarded as a significant conviction as it recognised that organisations have an obligation not just to their direct employees but also the volunteer members. Sydney Morning Herald
  71. 2007 5 0 Not Recorded USA During cleaning operations the diver released the trigger on the cavitation gun (deactivating the jet stream) to reposition. When the diver reapplied pressure to the trigger on the gun, the cavitation gun kicked back toward the diver, causing the retro end of the gun to come into close proximity of his wrist and forearm. Subsequently the retro-jet caused a high pressure (approx. 1000psi) seawater injection injury to the diver’s forearm See ADCI website for report
  72. 2006 5 26 Snow Joe USA Fireman Surface Swimmer “It is with deep regret that we advise you that a rescue-paramedic with Montgomery County (TN) EMS who went overboard during a water rescue attempt this past Thursday night died this morning. Joe Snow, an eight-year veteran was a diver and trained in swift-water rescue. He and a fellow rescue-paramedic were trying to rescue one of two 15-year-old boys who were trapped in the undercurrent below Ringgold Dam. Their raft was capsized by water spilling over the dam, and both paramedics went under. Snow was under water for six to eight minutes before rescuers could free him from the powerful undercurrent. Since then, he has been in critical condition at Vanderibilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The bodies of the teen-age boys were found Friday�. Firehouse Forum
  73. 2006 5 25 Delgado Lt. Nelson Salidas Bolivia Navy Bolivian Navy diver, working on a hydroelectric dam in Chojlla (La Paz). Double fatality (The second was Lt Wilson Uequizo). Unclear why naval divers were carrying out work for a private company (Commanding officers sued in court and two officers - including the commanding officer of the diver training centre - were dismissed) and it seems that the second diver was ordered into the water to rescue the first, but the details of the incident have not been reported though it appears to have been a Dam/differential Pressure, dual fatality. Reported in Elmundo.com
  74. 2006 5 25 Uequizo Lt Wilson Perez Bolivia Navy Bolivian Navy diver, working on a hydroelectric dam in Chojlla (La Paz). Double fatality (The second was Lt Nelson Delgado). Unclear why naval divers were carrying out work for a private company (Commanding officers sued in court and two officers - including the commanding officer of the diver training centre - were dismissed) and it seems that the second diver was ordered into the water to rescue the first, but the details of the incident have not been reported though it appears to have been a Dam/differential Pressure, dual fatality. Reported in Elmundo.com
  75. 2006 5 8 Barria Raphael Chacon Chile Peasuera San Jorge SCUBA Shellfish cultivation, Castro (Teupa chorito cultivation center), Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  76. 2005 5 31 Millasich David Scott USA On his 44th birthday, went spear fishing (solo) off Paseo del Mar, was found lying on the rocks by a passerby walking his dog. Rolled him over and the saw that he was bleeding from the right side of his chest. The diver managed to tell him that he had slipped and fallen on his own 7" diving knife. Apparently he had pulled it out himself. Died from the wound. Daily Breeze.
  77. 2005 5 22 Not Recorded USA 12 P & A job. No barrier cream on. Quote from second diver: "There was a bunch of red gooey stuff coming out of the pipeline at the cut I was making. It got all over my hat but I never got any burns. Once I saw it coming out I tried to stay away from it. I do know that it burned the hell out of him, and he couldn't dive anymore (on that job). He was in pain just turning his head".
  78. 2005 5 21 Not Recorded USA Subsea pipeline tie-in, crane ops, lost tips of two fingers
  79. 2005 5 6 Karla Vijay Rajaram India Navy A naval Chetak helicopter crashed near Chennai killing all three crew members on board. Lt-Commander D Poddar, who was flying the Chetak, Sub-Lt B Manoj and leading air crew naval diver Karla were killed in the crash at 4 pm. The mishap took place near the Rajali naval air station at Arakonam, about 50 km from Chennai. Times of India.
  80. 2004 5 14 Not Recorded Venezuela Diver drowned in lake Maracaibo
  81. 2004 5 12 Shultz Don USA Police SCUBA Aged 43, part of a four man Phoenix Police team searching a canal for a wheelchair belonging to a woman who had drowned in the canal on Monday 10th May. Life line came off, found in a one foot gap under a lock gate mouthpiece out. Hospitalised in a critical condition, taken off life support on Wednesday and died three hours later. Reported by KVOA
  82. 2003 5 28 Not Recorded USA Topsides Liftboat "Amberjack", West Delta Block 61, dewatering a pipeline, product pumped to temporary tanks on deck, gas release, explosion, no injuries USCG report
  83. 2003 5 23 Bradley Michael South Africa Police 30 SCUBA Aged 35, Police diver searching Lesotho Katse Dam for victims of a helicopter crash. Reported as stopping breathing, probable natural causes, but no details. South African Press Association
  84. 2003 5 7 Ferguson Jeff Canada Sunset Diving SCUBA? Initial press reports said 'Commercial diver recovering car from inland lake'. Later:- "Sunset Diving, a Kenora diving outfitter, was convicted on three charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act’s diving regulations following a fatal diving accident in May 2003. The provincial offences court in Kenora levied fines totaling $10,000, plus a victim surcharge of 25 per cent on conviction of three of nine charges. The off-duty Kenora Police officer who was contracted for a commercial diving operation by Sunset Diving, died from a massive air embolism May 7, 2003. Ferguson, 30, dove to the bottom of Deception Bay in an effort to retrieve a truck (Fell through the ice during the previous winter, Sunset Diving was hired by the Insurance Company) became entangled and was unable to free himself, a Ministry of Labour spokesman said. The deceased was motionless and not emitting bubbles by the time a standby diver reached Ferguson and cut him loose, bringing him to the surface where resuscitation efforts failed. Sunset Diving was found guilty on three counts of practices contrary to Section 271(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. On the first count, under Section 38-1(c) of the diving regulations contained in the act, Sunset Diving was found guilty of failing as the diving supervisor to ensure the worker had proper protective devices, which in this case were an emergency reserve or emergency bailout system (a small reserve tank). The company was fined $5,000. The company was also convicted of the sixth count, under Section 18-1, that the standby diver who attempted the rescue dove without being attached to a live line. The fine was $1,000. On the seventh count, Sunset Diving was found guilty under Section 12-4(b) of failing to ensure the standby diver was adequately trained for a dive of approximately 70 feet. The standby diver was a restricted diver under CSA standards (Z275.4) and therefore not qualified to dive operationally in depths exceeding 60 feet. Sunset Diving was fined $4,000. Reported in Ecoweek
  85. 2003 5 0 Harley Stephen Saudi Arabia ADAMS One of three divers (With Andrew Iles and Michael Hopley) allegedly exposed to toxic chemicals chemicals discharged from a vessel owned by Saudi Aramco, in May 2003. All three were admitted to hospital with rashes and nausea and were then readmitted for a further ten days after they experienced difficulties in breathing and became lethargic. None have been able to return to diving as an occupation. They are bringing a negligence action in the UK against the diving contractor and diving supervisor (March 2009). Details sub judice
  86. 2003 5 0 Hopley Michael Saudi Arabia ADAMS One of three divers (With Andrew Iles and Stephen) allegedly exposed to toxic chemicals chemicals discharged from a vessel owned by Saudi Aramco, in May 2003. All three were admitted to hospital with rashes and nausea and were then readmitted for a further ten days after they experienced difficulties in breathing and became lethargic. None have been able to return to diving as an occupation. They are bringing a negligence action in the UK against the diving contractor and diving supervisor (March 2009). Details sub judice
  87. 2003 5 0 Iles Andrew Saudi Arabia ADAMS One of three divers (With Stephen Harley and Michael Hopley) allegedly exposed to toxic chemicals chemicals discharged from a vessel owned by Saudi Aramco, in May 2003. All three were admitted to hospital with rashes and nausea and were then readmitted for a further ten days after they experienced difficulties in breathing and became lethargic. None have been able to return to diving as an occupation. They are bringing a negligence action in the UK against the diving contractor and diving supervisor (March 2009). Details sub judice
  88. 2002 5 23 Macko Steven C USA SCUBA Aged 42, off duty firefighter/diver, working for a contractor installing a fountain in Petersen Lake, a 15 acre lake in the centre of O'Hare Office Plaza, with 4 other divers, died, no details but reported that he and his colleagues planned to swim across the lake to the fountain but that when he was pulled from water his air valve was turned off
  89. 2002 5 22 Blackley Martin UK Seahorse Aquaculture 16 SCUBA British, Royal Marine commando, aged 26, Altbea Fish farm, Loch Ewe, entangled in rope, valve not fully functional, speculated that he hyperventilated, panicked, drowned. He was unqualified, 3 man dive team, no dressed in stand-by, no lifeline, no communications, no knife, no risk assessment, no dive logs, On medical leave with a leg injury, diving in exchange for a £300 drysuit
  90. 2001 5 9 Rig 'Glomar Baltic I' USA, GOM Jack Up, Blow out
  91. 2001 5 5 Draughon USN Mathew Japan USN S/S Air American Navy diver aged 21, diving off USS "Safeguard", salvage of crashed F-16, early hours of the morning, strong currents, hoses wrapped around anchor chains, helmet off, body washed up on beach a month later, 'drowned due to accident', second diver, Bryan Gordon was rescued safely. Navy criticised vessel leadership for not taking account of fatigue, deteriorating weather conditions and poor risk management procedures. estripes.com
  92. 2001 5 3 Devis Craig Australia Relik Pty Ltd. 15 S/S Air Diving off Forbes Island Great Northern Barrier Reef, harvesting rock lobster. Following no response from diver for several minutes tender driver hauled diver to surface unconscious. CPR attempts unsuccessful. Oxygen equipment unsuitable for non breathing person. Air intake hose to petrol driven compressor had split. Weighted vest unable to be released in emergency. No alternate air supply . Prosecution (Above plus unsafe Hookah unit). Drowning with carbon monoxide toxicity and DCI as contributory factors). Workplace Health and Safety, Queensland.
  93. 2000 5 28 Cronland Kyle USA Bulldod Diving American, Southern Indiana Gas and Electricity Company, Cinergy Power Plant, Indianapolis, Ohio River, zero vis, removing mud from a locked out pump.  Pump cells all suck water from a common screen cell.  Apparently either diver walked around dividing wall into common cell then was pulled or wandered into a live pump. Drowned when umbilical was cur (Did he have a bailout??). Cause given as incorrect lock out/rag out procedues. Offshore Diver/NAOCD/cDiver/Indianapolis Star
  94. 2000 5 19 Harun Mohd Nor Malaysia Fire and Rescue Services SCUBA Paraphrased from the newspaper report:- “Another diver from the Fire and Rescue Services Department's scuba diving unit disappeared this morning during a search operation for a colleague who had gone missing since Monday around the waters of Pulau Lalang and Pulau Saga. The diver, identified as Mohd Nor Harun, in his 40s, is feared to have suffered a similar fate as his colleague, Idris Ahmad, 36. Idris was believed to have drowned while clearing the waters of discarded fishing nets. A police spokesman said the incident occurred about 11.30am today when the diver failed to surface for a break. His body was found by fisherman 3 days later. 40 divers were taking part in the search. Another diver became unconscious during the search and was admitted to the armed forces hospital at the Lumut naval base�. Reported in the New Straits Times
  95. 2000 5 16 Ahmad Idris Malaysia Fire and Rescue Services SCUBA Paraphrased from the newspaper report:- “Another diver from the Fire and Rescue Services Department's scuba diving unit disappeared this morning during a search operation for a colleague who had gone missing since Monday around the waters of Pulau Lalang and Pulau Saga. The diver, identified as Mohd Nor Harun, in his 40s, is feared to have suffered a similar fate as his colleague, Idris Ahmad, 36. Idris was believed to have drowned while clearing the waters of discarded fishing nets. A police spokesman said the incident occurred about 11.30am today when the diver failed to surface for a break. His body was found by fisherman 3 days later. 40 divers were taking part in the search. Another diver became unconscious during the search and was admitted to the armed forces hospital at the Lumut naval base�. Reported in the New Straits Times
  96. 2000 5 12 King Edward USA Reported as "Quahog diver was found dead after reported missing. Boat and diver was found day after he was lost. Apparent Drowning" NAOCD/cDiver
  97. 2000 5 5 Warzack Mathew USA Lindahl Marine S/S Air American, reported as "Diver was sucked into a 9 ft diameter intake. Lost communications with diver after 15 minutes, body recovered 40 minutes later. Improper tag-out procedures. 3 Citations, informally Settled". No other details. NAOCD/cDiver
  98. 1998 5 19 Blackmon Eugene USA Fire Brigade 9 SCUBA Aged 39, SAR diver with the fire department. Accident happened in the Little Calumet river undertaking a search for two victims, drowned. (A man described as being between 40 and 50 fell into the river, a man jumped in to give him aid, both drowned. The fire-fighter was trying to find the two victims). After an initial SCUBA search dive, due to zero visibility and the underwater current, the victim and his partner decided to change over to their underwater communication masks. Returned to the staging area, changed tanks and placed a 50 foot long, 4-inch round air float (rubber-jacketed fire hose) from shore to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter that had just arrived. The divers decided to remove their SCUBA gear and free float to the Coast Guard cutter using the 4-inch float as a guide and flotation device, determining this would be the easiest way to enter the boat since it did not have a swim platform. Wearing his weight belt, the victim began his free float to the boat, holding on to his Buoyancy Control Device (BCD), tank, and the 4-inch air float as flotation devices. The weight belt consisted of three 10-pound lead weights secured around his waist. As the victim was approaching the boat he lost grip of the flotation devices and instantly went under the water due to the 30-pound weight belt that he did not release. His partner immediately went down after him, free diving with just his wet suit which created a buoyancy problem and limited his dive depth. After two attempts to reach the victim, he surfaced and called for assistance from the Air and Sea Rescue divers. One diver from the Air and Sea Rescue team descended to the area where the victim went down and located him. As the victim was pulled close to the water surface, the victim’s partner grabbed him. The Air and Sea diver lost his grip on the victim while adjusting his own equipment, and because of the 30-pound weight belt around the victim’s waist, the victim’s partner was unable to hold on to him, and he descended for a second time. The victim was located and pulled from the water approximately 10 to 15 minutes later by the police rescue divers. The victim received immediate medical attention on shore before being loaded into the Air and Sea Rescue helicopter which transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Reported in the press and official records.
  99. 1998 5 18 Johnson Grey China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  100. 1998 5 18 MacPhail Alister China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  101. 1998 5 18 Shord Mike China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  102. 1998 5 18 Skeate Martin China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  103. 1997 5 22 Rayment David William Canada Working at Ganges Harbour on Saltsprint Island (Between Vancouver Island and the mainland), died, trapped underwater, pinned against the broken wharf he was working on by his collapsed crane. Awarded the Medal of Bravery for his part in trying to save people trapped under an overturned boat in 1993. His best friend said:- "It's ironic he was killed in the same situation, by being trapped underwater".
  104. 1997 5 21 Little Jim USA Acadiana Divers Chamber American, died during surface decompression, smoking inside the DDC, chamber fire. Reported in the press simply as:- “On Sunday, a professional diver undergoing decompression on the dive boat 'White Dove' was killed when the chamber caught fire, the Coast Guard said� Reported in the Orlando Chronicle
  105. 1997 5 19 Kassim Aminnuddin Che Singapore Aged 41, one of two experienced divers (the other diver was Salleh Kudin) killed clearing debris from the cooling inlets of the petrochemical plant at Pillau Ayer Merbau on the same afternoon. Differential Pressure incident but no details. Straits Times
  106. 1997 5 19 Kudin Salleh Singapore Aged 41, one of two experienced divers (the other diver was Aminnuddin Kassim) killed clearing debris from the cooling inlets of the petrochemical plant at Pillau Ayer Merbau on the same afternoon. Differential Pressure incident but no details. Straits Times
  107. 1997 5 0 Lewis Brent R GOM American, jetting under a Casino barge (Isle of Capri) in Shreveport, no bailout, hose severed (pulled into pump inlet) ditched hat, drowned
  108. 1996 5 27 Loveday Julian Malaysia Aged 30 or 31, diver on the Pergau hydroelectric dam project at Kelantan, drowned during leak repair operations two weeks before he was due to be married (Not clear whether he fell off the barge or was killed in an underwater accident). No other details. Straits Times
  109. 1993 5 25 Masadi Singapore Indonesian, aged 29, died in an underwater explosion during a salvage operation on a shipweck. No other details. Straits Times
  110. 1993 5 1 Not Recorded USA Police SCUBA American police officer, Missouri, attempting to rescue a canoe accident victim in a rain swollen river, swept away and drowned even though he had breathing apparatus.
  111. 1991 5 18 Worthington Chris USA Aged 22, Killed while preforming a wheel job when the engines were started and engaged. Body recovered
  112. 1990 5 30 Rig 'Keyes Marine 303' USA Jack Up, Blow out
  113. 1988 5 24 Olsen Alan Nigeria Comex SCUBA First dive on an SBM. Competition between the divers ("The best diver is the first in the water"), pillar valve not fully opened and flow restricted, became short of air, made a rapid ascent in the well of a crude oil filled buoy but swam into a cross beam and lost his mouthpiece. Drowned. PC
  114. 1987 5 30 Carr William Norway Stolt Nielson 104 Saturation British, DSV "Seaway Condor", Oseberg Norsk Hydro, Bell partner was M. Sullivan, Kirby Morgan 17 came off
  115. 1986 5 0 Ananenko Alexei USSR SCUBA Engineer at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, Uktraine, 26th April 1986. During tests reactor 4 went into meltdown causing the most significant release of radiation in history. During the immediate aftermath many workers were subjected to fatal doses of radiation in desperate attempts to mitigate the effects. At one stage, in order to reduce the risk of a steam explosion in the flooded baement area, three volunteers (Valeri Bezpalov, Boris Baranov and Alexei Ananenko) entered the flooded area in diving gear to open the sliuce gates manually. All three returned to the surface after completing the work but died later from radiation sickness. GPS Buceo/Wikipedia
  116. 1986 5 0 Baranov Boris USSR SCUBA Soldier, Relief force at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, Uktraine, 26th April 1986. During tests reactor 4 went into meltdown causing the most significant release of radiation in history. During the immediate aftermath many workers were subjected to fatal doses of radiation in desperate attempts to mitigate the effects. At one stage, in order to reduce the risk of a steam explosion in the flooded baement area, three volunteers (Valeri Bezpalov, Boris Baranov and Alexei Ananenko) entered the flooded area in diving gear to open the sliuce gates manually. All three returned to the surface after completing the work but died later from radiation sickness. GPS Buceo/Wikipedia
  117. 1986 5 0 Bezpalov Valeri USSR SCUBA Engineer at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, Uktraine, 26th April 1986. During tests reactor 4 went into meltdown causing the most significant release of radiation in history. During the immediate aftermath many workers were subjected to fatal doses of radiation in desperate attempts to mitigate the effects. At one stage, in order to reduce the risk of a steam explosion in the flooded baement area, three volunteers (Valeri Bezpalov, Boris Baranov and Alexei Ananenko) entered the flooded area in diving gear to open the sliuce gates manually. All three returned to the surface after completing the work but died later from radiation sickness. GPS Buceo/Wikipedia
  118. 1985 5 22 Tonkawa USA Temple Drilling 6 Drill rig with crew of 22, under tow overturned in 19' of water, divers cut two men out of the upturned hull 5 hours later, 6 fatalities. Los Angeles Times
  119. 1985 5 4 Hines Bruce USA Mel Fisher American, aged 32, salvage operation for professional treasure hunter Mel Fisher off Johns Island, Florida, moving an anchor off the wreck of the 'Endeavour' pulled from the water 27th April but died several days in Humana Hospital due to complications arising from bronchial pneumonia. No real details, Miami Herald.
  120. 1984 5 4 Lawson George UK Comex 140 Saturation Diving off the DSV "Kingsnorth Explorer", oxy/Arc cutting, rendered unconscious by an explosion. Face plate blown in, ruptured eardrums, right side pneumothorax, rescued by bellman Neil Wiggins (died December 2003) who was awarded the Frank Dearman award for bravery and a Queen’s Commendation. (The same diver was again called upon in 1987 when he saved two hypothermic divers, Fred McNally and Kanute Monstra, from a stranded welding habitat). MCDOA website
  121. 1983 5 6 Schumacher Edward USA 24 S/S Air Aged 26, one of a 7 man diving team working off a barge over a newly laid section of the tunnel of the third Elizabeth River tunnel between Norfolk and Portsmouth, became entangled underwater at arounf 16:25. Recovered by stand-by divers, transferred to a decompression chamber at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk but died of 'heart failure' just afyer 19:00 hours. The Free Lance-Star
  122. 1982 5 28 Bin Henry Lim Kim Indonesia Oceaneering Topsides Singaporean, aged 26, one of 7 passengers who died when a Perlita Air Services 'Puma' crashed into the sea en route to Natuna Island from a Gulf Oil installation. At least three of the passengers (Henry lim Kim Bin, Leong way Hok and Allan Ming) were divers working for Oceaneering Singapore. He was coming ashore to be married two days later, his fiancee was 22. Straits Times
  123. 1982 5 28 Hok Leong Way Indonesia Oceaneering Topsides Singaporean, one of 7 passengers who died when a Perlita Air Services 'Puma' crashed into the sea en route to Natuna Island from a Gulf Oil installation. At least three of the passengers (Henry lim Kim Bin, Leong way Hok and Allan Ming) were divers working for Oceaneering Singapore. Straits Times
  124. 1982 5 28 Ming Allan Indonesia Oceaneering Topsides Singaporean, one of 7 passengers who died when a Perlita Air Services 'Puma' crashed into the sea en route to Natuna Island from a Gulf Oil installation. At least three of the passengers (Henry lim Kim Bin, Leong way Hok and Allan Ming) were divers working for Oceaneering Singapore. Straits Times
  125. 1981 5 16 Not Recorded USA S/S Air West Delta, Block 31, OCS 0016, Platform H, Exxon. "A contract diver was oxy arc cutting well conductors in approximately 45 feet of water when an explosion of unknown origin occurred. A back up diver was sent down. The diver was found unconscious and tangled in his hose with his diver hat and harness off. He was brought to the surface unconscious. 1 fatality. OCS Incidents data 1956-1990, page 250.
  126. 1981 5 11 Jackson Fred Canada SCUBA Aged 30, salvage operation at lower Cove Terminal, St John Harbour, New Brunswick, grounded freighter, MV 'Opal', surface suppled equipment available, but diver decided to run a hog line under the hull using SCUBA, returned to the support vessel, then rolled onto his side and sank from view. Immediate search could not find the diver (harbour up to 80' deep, low visibility, high currents). Body recovered six weeks later. Coroner determined the cause as drowning (body was found underwater). However, he had been having pains in his neck, shoulder and chest over the previous two days but no tests/autopsy were not done to determine if he had had a heart attack. PC
  127. 1979 5 10 Rig 'Ranger1' USA Mitchell Energy 3 leg Jack Up built 1968 drilling block 189L. Between 1500 and 1800 hours in the afternoon experienced a violent shudder, with personnel reporting it as a violent shaking or a vertical fall of up to 30cm. Up to an hour was spent trying to locate the cause of the movement without success. Work aboard the rig then continued, including the offloading of supplies from the Delta Seahorse supply boat. At about 2230, prior to a shift change, the Ranger I collapsed into the sea. The stern leg, below the accommodation block, broke near the connection to the support mat causing the upper hull to fall stern-first and strike the Delta Seahorse. The bow legs supported the upper hull for a short time, then collapsed, allowing the upper hull to fall to the sea. The upper hull then separated from the legs, drifted to the west and sank over the course of the following day. Prior to the initial collapse, most of the crew were in the living quarters, with 13 men in the galley. The survivors reported experiencing a rapid fall followed by sudden jolt as the upper hull struck the water. The lower floor of the accommodation unit flooded instantly to a depth of 2-3 feet. The men escaped either through the galley's port door or through galley windows taking seat cushions or life jackets for floatation. Three patterns developed: one group gathered at the helideck; a second group swam to the Delta Seahorse whilst a third jumped overboard to get away from the upper hull before it sank. The Delta Seahorse, alongside the Ranger I, signaled a MAYDAY and picked up four crew from the water, going on to co-ordinate further rescue operations. The Miss Angela, busy towing another rig at the time of the collapse, was also dispatched to aid the rescue and picked up a further 14 men. Coast Guard helicopters recovered another four men from the water. Eight men lost their lives in the accident, with many of the survivors suffering serious injuries. The remains of the rig were later salvaged and examined by the U.S. Coast Guard. The investigating board concluded that the Ranger I had collapsed as a result of an existing fatigue crack in the stern leg, near the connection to the mat. At around 1700 hours on 10 May 1979, the crack had rapidly propagated around the leg, causing the leg to break and the rig to shudder. Over the following hours, a combination of dynamic and static loading dislodged the broken leg and caused the rig to collapse.
  128. 1979 5 6 Wells Robert Lloyd USA S/S Air Aged 33. Quote:- “Working at the Simtag Farms intake pumps at the confluence of Willow Creek and the Columbia River when his air lines apparently were sucked into the pumps and cut. His partner was at the surface at the time. When he realised something was wrong, he dove under and attempted to free Wells and bring him up for air but the lines were stuck in the intake pumps and another diver had to be called before Wells could be freed, police said� Reported in the Tri City Herald.
  129. 1979 5 5 Eke B E UK Maritime Offshore Products 31 S/S Air British, aged 34. Southern North Sea installation 48/29C, Over inflated dry suit, entangled in water jet equipment, helmet came detached, drowned
  130. 1978 5 21 Not Recorded USA Ship Shoal, Block 114, OCS 64, Platform SOB, Odeco. "A diver was removing a valve in the oil storage tank when a nipple on the air compressor broke, reducing his air supply. On syrfacing in the tank, diver removed his helmet and was overcome by toxic fumes and drowned". OCS Incident database
  131. 1978 5 8 Godey Gerard Congo Comex Topsides Opened a regeneration tower that had not been purged, crushed chest. (No interlock mechanism). PC
  132. 1977 5 10 Hoffman C H UK IUC 152 Saturation American, aged 22. Venture 1, conflicting reports, had finished dive, acting as bellman, either fell unconscious in the bell and drowned in trunking or fainted and fell through hatch, recovered by diver but he then drowned in trunking, possible pO2 issue? UPDATE: See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_One_diving_accident
  133. 1976 5 13 Dymott C UK SBM Anglesey 37 SCUBA British, aged 26, drowned. 2 divers reported in trouble, located by stand-by(s) on seabed. Dymott with mouthpiece out, dive time listed as 5 hours?
  134. 1976 5 12 Hubert Nicholas UK North Sea Diving Services 37 S/S Air British, aged 24. Pipelay barge "PT One Elfa Norge", looking for a broken transponder on the bottom of the TP1 under construction in Loch Fyne. After an uneventful dive he was approaching the surface when he died. It subsequently turned out that the transponder was not broken and the fault was on the surface. The cause of death was reported as AGE (Arterial Gas Embolism) through diving with a chest infection, lung collapse, pulmonary barotrauma
  135. 1976 5 3 Dobson Anthony (Tony) UK Comex 37 S/S Air British, aged 30. Pipelay barge "Orca", stinger checks, either umbilical snagged subsea, pulled out of basket during recovery, extended umbilical (OD), or fouling of long umbilical in tideway, lost mouthpiece (HSE), stand-by diver could not reach him, drowning
  136. 1975 5 24 Babin Jean Claude Dubai Comex SCUBA Oilfield Dive, extended bottom time but no provision for in-water decompression stops, zodiac outboard engine failed leading to delayed recompression/surface decompression. Doctor refused to enter DDC. PC
  137. 1975 5 16 Not Recorded USA Pacific Agar Company 8 Reported as drowned during seaweed harvesting off Dana point due to compressor failure, but no details. Los Angeles Times.
  138. 1974 5 23 Auestad B UK 61 Norwegian, aged 24. Died of natural causes in the DDC, Delay in getting him into DDC - obese – plus post mortem revealed history of heart problems, not medically fit to dive.
  139. 1972 5 8 Stein Wendel Edward 'Del' British Virgin Islands 27 Rebreather Aged 24, diving from the oceanographic research vessel 'Neap Tide' off Peter Island. Reported as 'surfaced around 5 o'clock after apparently having trouble with the rebreather pack he was wearing' USCG flew in a doctor by helicopter from the air and sea rescue base on Puerto Rico but he was pronounced dead two hours after surfacing. No details. Reported in the Virgin Islands Daily News
  140. 1972 5 1 Taylor Robert UK Strongwork 13 SCUBA British, aged 25. Drillship "Britannia", big meal, vomited underwater, found entangled in a rope 11 hours later, drowned. Possibly no training
  141. 1970 5 15 Not Recorded Israel Military Elath, salvage operations on a Naval Axillary Vessel sank three months earlier in an attack 'by underwater raiders' One diver killed, three others injured in an explosion reported as being due to a mine planted by Egyptian frogman on the worksite. No other details. St. Petersburg Times
  142. 1970 5 2 Chorinsky Australia Ocean Systems 61 S/S Air Reported as dying on offshore operations in the Bass Strait after being employed less than two weeks. Allegedly no medical and previously sacked by another diving contractors after panicking in deep water. Working on a pipeline at 200' with only one dive to 120' the previous week, rapid ascent. 'Weight belt attached to air line, no bail out, no first stage regulator, died 25 minutes after entering the decompression chamber'
  143. 1963 5 0 Rig 'Mr Louie' Germany Jack Up, Blowout.
  144. 1960 5 1 Arakawa Hirochi? Australia 66 S/S Air Singapore Free Press "An Okinawan pearl diver died of divers paralysis near Thursday Island". "The first pearl diving fatality of the season ocurred at the weekend in the Darnley deeps, 55 miles off Thursday Island. Aged 26, Okinawan, diving in 36 fathoms at 2pm from the lugger 'Sedney'. He was brought to the surface in easy stages but was dead when he reached the surface. The Sydney Morning Herald
  145. 1956 5 0 Kontoyannis Kristos Australia S/S Air 45 year old Greek sponge diver from post war depressed Mediterranean island of Kalymnos, chief diver in one of two teams of Greek divers transported to Australia at government expense to replace the Japanese divers working off Australian pearl luggers out of Darwin and Broome. Air line was cut by the propeller of the lugger 'Postboy' and he died ("Asphyxia, due to sudden damage to the lungs when the propeller cut the airline. The accident was caused when the lugger, proceeding at very pace, was forced backwards by 3 heavy and unexpected waves, thus fouling the airline which was in its position protruding from the stern"). His death highlighted the bad feeling between the lugger operators (who resented losing their cheap Japanese divers) and Greek divers. There were rumours that the death may not have been accidental. Rubicon Research Repository
  146. 1954 5 31 Barker Paul S USA Rebreather Aged 38, Brown Mills, Mirror Lake, “A member of the volunteer first-aid squad died here today during an underwater dive to test a new oxygen rescue device� No details
  147. 1954 5 8 Sutrick Gabriel Australia 17 S/S Air Aged 28, single, from Yam, pearl diving from the Hosking Brothers lugger 'Panton' on Warrior Reef, 86 miles from Thursday Island in the Torres straight, died after the vessel's propellor cut his airline. Adelaide Advertiser
  148. 1951 5 7 Clark Roy T USA Military S/S Air Lake Michigan, small salvage boat (LCVP – Landing Craft, Vehicles, Personnel) working on a salvage operation to recover a jet fighter that had crashed into the lake a few days earlier. The boat overturned drowning 1 crewman and the Navy diver trapped underneath who “was just emerging from the water in full regalia� . Two other crewmen missing. Chicago Tribune.
  149. 1950 5 7 Otari Keichi Japan Topsides Hiroshima. Diver aged 48, found a Torpedo. He hit it with a hammer and it exploded killing him and 7 others. No real details. Reported in the New York Times.
  150. 1948 5 25 Not Recorded France S/S Air "A diver is missing and three workmen were slightly injured after an explosion aboard a destroyer in Toulon Naval Harbour. The vessel was being dismantled when the explosion occurred. The cause was not known" Reuters/Straits Times
  151. 1945 5 0 Mallows Gunners Mate First Class Earl Military Aged 26, "Diver killed in the line of duty" according to telegram from the Navy received by his family. No other details. The Nashua Telegraph (NH)
  152. 1939 5 28 Matromoto Torakichi Australia S/S Air “Diver Suffocated� PERTH, Monday.— “A message from Broome states that the Japanese sampan, ‘Arafura Maru No. 10’, arrived on Sunday with the body of Torakichi Hatromoto, 20, who, while fishing for pearlshell 17 miles off Wallal, fouled his air pipe in the ship's propeller�. Reported in The Courier Mail, Brisbane, Qld.
  153. 1937 5 20 Sakamoto Keniko or Kinicho Australia Bowden Pearling Company 37 S/S Air "A Japanese lugger brought into Darwin the body of Keniko Sakamoto, aged 25, a diver who was drowned by the bursting of the air pipe when he was working at 20 fathoms. This is the tenth fatality this season amongst divers working the pearling grounds northwest of the Liverpool river". Reported in the Worker, Brisbane.
  154. 1937 5 10 Minami Masaji Australia S/S Air "Diver Drowns" 6 Pearling luggers arrived in Darwin with flags at half mast,with the lugger 'Medlar' bearing the body of a 28 year old Japanese pearl diver. The fleet had breen working round the English Company's islands and had intended returning to Thursday Island but the winds were adverse so had made for Darwin instead. The man was an experienced diver when using a full suit but was learning to dive with a helmet and corselet only. The crew believe that he made some mistake as the lifeline fouled a buoy and he was drowned before any assistance could reach him. The loss to each lugger attending the funeral is estimated at fully £200. One diver a week is being lost on overseas luggers on average. Reported in the Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, NSW.
  155. 1937 5 9 Minamie Masaji Australia S/S Air Returning crews sailed into Darwin to-day for the funeral rites of Masaji Minaraie, a Thursday Island diver. He died at the Echo Island beds, another paralysis victim. Reported in the Kalgoorlie Miner, WA. (This incident was not reported in the American press until mid August)
  156. 1937 5 9 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air “Mysterious Monster Feared By Divers�. Darwin, May 11. “A mysterious monster has added to the grim toll of the sea among pearl divers with the Japanese fleets. It devoured a diver on the seabed, lugger crews believe, and it has struck terror into their hearts. Crews returning today from beds north of Echo Island told how it devoured the diver and his heavy gear in one vicious attack. The first intimation the lugger's crew had of the tragedy on the seafloor was a rending tug on the diver's airline. Then – slowly - the lines floated ominously to the surface. Gone was the diver and also his heavy metal diving helmet. Next morning, the sole clue to the tragedy, a few remnants of clothing, floated on the surface. The grim toll of the sea steadily mounts. Seven Japanese divers have been lost in seven weeks. Most have died from paralysis.. Reported in the Kalgoorlie Miner, WA. (This incident was not reported in the American press until mid August)
  157. 1935 5 15 Wunderlich Albert Edward Australia 2 S/S Air Aged about 40, single, working on the construction of the high level bridge over the Herbert river near Ingham, diving routinely in 7 or 8 feet of water, had been down sometime, at smoko they signalled him to prepare for pulling up but received no response and immediately hauled him up. The diver reached the surace minus his headdress which had become detached from the costume. A doctor and ambulance were hurridly summoned but after arduous endeavours at respiration life was pronounced to be extinct. Reported in the Nothern Miner.
  158. 1934 5 24 Christofis Fotis USA, Florida 27 S/S Air Aged about 52, Sponge diver onboard the 'George Washington', he had been at 15 fathoms for 43 minutes when he was taken ill, brought to the surface, but 'On removing his helmet he was found to be dead'. Vessel spent 24 hours in transit to port (Tarpon Springs) and the body was transferred to the Vinson Funeral home. Cause of death was recorded as 'suffered a stroke'. Funeral service held at the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, buried at the Cycadia cemetery. St Petersberg Times.
  159. 1930 5 0 Kawamot Kumaichi Australia S/S Air "Japanese diver Drowned, air pipe entangled in propeller"; "Dead when hauled to surface" Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW
  160. 1929 5 6 Sabe Kikozo Australia A. C. Gregory 36 S/S Air Reported that a pearling lugger D58 of Captain Gregory's fleet sailed into Darwin port this afternoon with the flag at half mast. The captain reported that while diving for pearl off Shoal Bay a Japanese diver was working in 20 fathoms of water, the air pipe split, and the diver was dead when hauled up. The Sydney Morning Herald/Northern Standard, Darwin, NT
  161. 1927 5 25 Harrison Edgar USA S/S Air American, from Catalina, speculative search for Aimee Macpherson (faked her own disappearance, but at the time was presumed missing/dead and there was a $25,000 reward for finding her. She had actually run off with her boyfriend). Water pressure acerbated appendicitis and he died. Macpherson re-appeared from the desert, initially claiming kidnap. Harrison's widow tried to sue Macpherson.
  162. 1927 5 4 Madden Charles Australia S/S Air “DIVER COLLAPSES. When he was being brought to the surface after working on a pile cylinder under water at the George's River bridge yesterday afternoon Charles Madden, aged 30, collapsed. The St George District Ambulance was called and first aid rendered. It was found necessary, however, to take the man to the St. George District Hospital. He was suffering from diver's palsy�. Reported in The Sydney Morning Herald.
  163. 1926 5 24 Devine John USA 12 S/S Air American, aged 40, New York East River, "Friend by mistake cut off his air hose" New York Times. Another report indicates "His lead soled boot was trapped in a cofferdam frame, his airline twisted and tangled, he died a divers death 30 feet under the East River this afternoon". He was recovered to the surface by fellow diver Alexander Hansen but was dead. Survived by 5 children. They were working on the installation of filter screens on the two water inlet tunnels supplying water to the new Edison Company plant being built at the end of fourteenth Street. Montreal Gazette
  164. 1918 5 11 Not Recorded USA Military “Plumber� drowned at navy deep sea training school - A training accident, no details
  165. 1914 5 24 Not Recorded Australia Topsides "Lugger goes to bottom. Loss of Two Lives. The chief harbourmaster at Freemantle has been advised by the wharfinger at Broome that the lugger 'Eleanor' sank off Wallal after parting her moorings in a south-east gale. Two members of the crew, a Japanese diver and a Malay, were drowned. The balance of the crew, including a white man named Chapman who was in charge of the lugger, were picked up after being in the water 6 hours. Reported in the Kalgoolie Western Argus.
  166. 1912 5 8 Not Recorded Australia Topsides DIVER FINED. BROOME. May 8 “A white diver recently imported from England for pearling was fined £20, in default a month's imprisonment for having destroyed a leaf out of a ship's diary�. Reported in The Register, Adelaide, SA
  167. 1906 5 21 Sajidoko Australia S/S Air Japanese, aged about 26, pearling off one of Captain Edward's luggers to the south of Melville island off Cape Gambier, drift diving, airlines snagged on an underwater obstruction and pulled apart at a coupling by the weight of the boat. The diver suffocated before he was hauled to the surface. Reported in the Northern TerritoryTtimes and Gazette
  168. 1906 5 20 Kraming South Africa S/S Air Simonstown harbour, apparently drowned, helmet off (Siebe Gorman?). Captured in colour illustration on the front page of 'Le Petit Journal', now available as a retro-poster (allposters.com). Newspaper report dated 27th June regarding an inquest held in Simonstown into the death of a diver on the breakwater works. "Another diver named MacPhail was down at the same time, and whilst the two men were standing together MacPhail saw Kraming's helmet suddenly fly off. Kraming caught hold of MacPhail and pulled on the lifeline. Both men were drawn up to within 10 feet of the surface when the hauling stopped and MacPhail was forced to let go his hold with the result that Kraming fell to the bottom again and was drowned. It was conclusively proved that the helmet was properly ajusted when he left the boat to descend but there was no evidence to show how it became unfastened. The magistrate, in returning a verdict of 'death by drowning', commented somewhat severely on the methods prevailing at Sir John Jackson's works and expressed the opinion that an extra man should be furnished to each diver and that only reliable men should be employed on the work. It is said that such an occurrence is unparalleled in connection with diving operations". Straits Times.
  169. 1903 5 15 Abdullah Ahamat Australia S/S Air "The Treasury Department has received advice that Ahamat Abdullah, a Malay diver, was drowned at Thursday Island throught the pipeline bursting" Reported in the Morning Post, Cairns.
  170. 1900 5 25 Not Recorded UK "Tragic death of a diver. Last night the steamer 'Fawn', which had been at the steam liner "Dewdrop" of Aberdeen, which was wrecked at the Swarf, Stronsay,..." (Fishing liner 'Dewdrop' went ashore at Linga Sound, Stronsay, in a storm, refloated and put back into service). No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Angus Evening Post/The British Newspaper Archive
  171. 1898 5 0 Nanosaki Hinado Philippines S/S Air Japanese diver died from 'paralysis', no details. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  172. 1896 5 19 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air “A report from Thursday Island states that a diver of the lugger 'Elen' has died of diving paralysis, off Darnley Island, making the second death from the same cause on the same vessel within three months�. Reported in the West Australian.
  173. 1894 5 12 Gurr (or Gun?) Alfred Henry UK S/S Air "Shocking accident. A man named Alfred Henry Gurr, living in Buckland, who was employed at new harbour works as a diver, met with..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald/The British Newspaper Archive
  174. 1894 5 9 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air "Another Japanese diver was drowned at Thursday Island on Wednesday" Reported in the Colac Herald, Vic
  175. 1893 5 10 Rosa Ullalio Australia 36 S/S Air Diving off the Thursday Islands from the lugger 'Monday' owned by the Wal Wear Station. After 5 dives removed gear and immediately complained of feeling unwell. Lay in bunk with a cup of tea having a smoke but his condition suddenly deteriorated, became unconscious and finally died. Inquiry concluded that he died of diver's paralysis. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  176. 1893 5 10 Wahoo Johnnie Australia 36 S/S Air From Honolulu, diving off the Thursday Islands from the pearling lugger 'Premier' After 5 dives on deck, removed gear, but 30 minutes later complained of feeling unwell. In spite of vigorous massage, after about 12 hours became unconscious and died two hours later. Inquiry concluded that he died of diver's paralysis. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  177. 1893 5 0 Allen Harry Australia S/S Air Native of Norfolk Island, no details , reported as a third fatality in the report of the deaths of Johnnie Wahoo and Ullalio Rosa as “A well known and esteemed diver� who died later that same week, but gave no details. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  178. 1893 5 0 Madrill William Garvie Australia Topsides Queensland, Brisbane, Monday. "Still another pearl diver has died near Thursday Island after working in deep water there. William Garvie Madrill has been found in a culvert at Ipswich, lying face downwards in a shallow pool of water, with a small stone embedded in his forehead. Life was extinct. Reported in the Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW
  179. 1893 5 0 Mateo Australia S/S Air Reported as a fourth fatality in the report of the deaths of Johnnie Wahoo and Ullalio Rosa as “Late last evening, and after the above was in print, another case was reported, the victim in this case being Mateo, the diver of the 'Myrtle� who died later that same week, no details. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  180. 1893 5 0 Not Recorded Australia John Tolman S/S Air "Death of another Diver". Thursday Island, Monday - (In a paper on Monday 22nd, so could be 15th? TC) "Another diver is reported to have died through diving in deepwater, but this time the occurrence took place some distance from where the others met their fate. Deceased was working from Mr John Tolman's fleet. Evening News, Sydney. May be a double reoport for one of the other May fatalities?
  181. 1885 5 20 Larsen Ole Denmark S/S Air Aged 38, Salvage of the steamer 'Oresund', found dead on the wreck trapped by metal lying on his left arm. When recovered to the surface, it was discovered that his helmet had a hole in it and he is presumed to have drowned as a result of it flooding. Buried on the 25th May at the Fejo Parish Church, the day before his third child, Ole Laurits Larsen, was baptised there. Fejo archive at niwich.dk
  182. 1885 5 4 Maynard Richard Australia S/S Air Yesterday the inquest on the body of a diver named Richard Maynard, who died in the Sydney Hospital on Monday afternoon, was resumed concluded at the Coroner's old office, King-street, before the City Coroner, Mr. H. Shiell, J.P. It will be remembered that on Monday last the deceased was employed at the Circular Quay searching for some cargo which had fallen overboard from a vessel. After he had gone down into the water, another diver, named Henry Christian, happened to pass by the spot where air was being pumped down to him; and, noticing that something seemed to be wrong with the air-piping, he informed those in charge of the fact, and tee deceased was brought up to the surface. The man was then in an unconscious state. He was taken to the Sydney Hospital and attended to by Dr. Lowes, but he died shortly after being admitted to the institution. The medical evidence showed that death resulted from cerebral congestion and asphyxia. After hearing the evidence of a number of witnesses, the jury returned the following verdict: "We find that the deceased died from the combined effects of cerebral congestion and asphyxia, the result of the absence of sufficient air to maintain life whilst carrying out his occupation as a diver." The jury also appended the following as a rider to their verdict:-"We desire to add that we consider it to be the positive duty of all vendors of diving gear, and persons letting such gear for hire, to see that it is in sound order." The Sydney Morning Herald
  183. 1884 5 0 Gurr (Or Gun?) Alfred Henry UK "Dover. Shocking accident. A man named Alfred Henry Gurr, living in Buckland, who was employed at new harbour works as a diver, met with..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald/The British Newspaper Archive
  184. 1857 5 20 Barnicoat RE Edward Sgt. UK Military S/S Air "Death of a diver. A melancholy accident occurred on Wednesday morning to a colour sergeant of the Royal Engineers at Chatham named Edward Barnicoat...." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Royal Cornwall Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  185. 1857 5 15 Not Recorded UK S/S Air "Naval and Military Intelligence. An experienced diver who died under mysterious circumstances while occupied in diving for the purpose of recovering a 32 pounder ..." Suspected duplicate report of the death of Edward Barnicoat (20/5/1857). No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Caledoian Mercury/Belfast Mercury/The British Newspaper Archive
  186. 1854 5 2 Not Recorded UK "Fatal Accident happened on the 2nd inst. to one of the divers employed upon the Portland Breakwater works. The man…" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Westmoreland Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  187. 2014 5 30 Lee Min-seop South Korea S/S Air Aged 44 or 46 (Conflicting reports), killed in an underwater explosion whilst cutting an access hole into the hull of the capsised ferrty 'Sewol' that sank off southwest Korea on the 16th April during the search for bodies. Second diver to die on this operation (Lee Kwank-wook, 6th May), "A boom and a moan were heard, the diver was pulled to the surface, he was bleeding and unconscious, given CPR and transferred to hospital but declared dead there". Lee entered the water at around 1:50 pm to cut open the stern of the hull from the fourth deck, but as the operations drew to a close at around 2:20 p.m., a problem arose with the sound of crashing. At the crashing sound, two other divers at the scene pulled Lee out of the water but he was found to be unconscious with blood running from his nose and eyes, officials said. The chief neurosurgeon at Mokpo Hankook Hospital, said an X-ray and CT scan of Lee showed that both of the diver's lungs had been damaged by external injuries. "We suspect that he died from tension pneumothorax," the doctor said, referring to a condition in which the amount of air in the chest increases markedly. At the time of his death 288 people known to have died, 16 still missing. Reported by the BBC et al.
  188. 2016 5 6 Lovelace James Derek USA Military Surface Swimmer Aged 21, undergoing SEAL selection/training (BUD/S - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training) at Coronado, near San Diego, California. 'Safety Observers identified Lovelace as having difficulty and withdrew him from the exercise. He was aided to the edge of the pool by instructors where he then lost consciousness. Resuscitation efforts and first aid at the scene were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital'. Reported as the 5th trainee to lose consciousness at the facilty in the last four months. reported by nbcnews.com
  189. 2017 5 16 Robert Gregory France Fisherman 75m SCUBA Coral diver on Corsica diving off Arinella beach, Bastia, possibly a training dive to around 75 msw, released a signal buoy from depth to mark ascent point and get his friend in the boat to meet him with a cylinder of pure oxygen at his -9 msw decompression stop. He failed to ascend. His friend alerted the emergency services and initiated a search. The underwater brigade of the gendarmes located his body in 80 msw near the dive site the morning after.
  190. 2017 5 23 Lataste PO Bob France Military 28m Aged 24, French Navy clearance diver on the mine hunter 'L'Aigle', Seine Bay, French Atlantic coast, unconscious at depth, brought to surface by second diver, medivac to Le Havre, died during the night. Reported by Sud Ouest
  191. 2018 5 5 Seet Choon Heng (Jake) Singapore Mola Subsea Services SS/Air The body of 33-year-old Jake Seet Choon Heng, who went missing off the waters of Sentosa on Saturday (5 May), has been found. The police were alerted to a body found floating in the sea off Sentosa at 6.36pm on Monday. The body was that of a 33-year-old man who was reported missing on Saturday. The police are investigating the unnatural death. Seet, a 33-year-old commercial diver, went missing while conducting underwater operations for the vessel Jork at the Western Anchorage near Sentosa on Saturday. He is understood to be employed by Mola Subsea Services, which provides commercial diving services for vessels at major ports and anchorages within Singapore. On Monday, his sister Jacqueline Seet made an urgent appeal for “all parties to do their utmost” to bring her brother home. In a media statement, she added that neither the authorities nor her brother’s employer had promptly informed their family about his disappearance. Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to Seet’s employer for comments. Jake Seet leaves behind two sons aged six and three. According to his sister, his wife is due to give birth to their third child, a daughter, next month. Jasper Lei, 35, associate marketing director at Propnex Realty and a former colleague of Seet’s, described him as a “very fit and experienced diver” with more than 10 years of experience. While Lei expressed deep “shock” over Seet’s passing, the former commercial diver also noted that safety on the job could be compromised at times, due to the urgency of the task at hand and “limited manpower issues”. Lei and a friend started raising funds for Seet’s family on Monday night and have collected about $3,200 so far. “Jake came from a humble family, his wife is definitely devastated by the loss,” Lei added. “With two kids plus an unborn child, the future is really challenging for them.” This story was updated to include quotes from Jasper Lei and other information. Taken from Singapore News: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/body-missing-singaporean-diver-jake-seet-found-off-sentosa-024851489.html
  192. 2018 5 0 Bucio Juan USA Chicago Fire Department Juan Bucio, 46, was among the first responders called to a report of a person missing in the Chicago River near the 2600 block of South Ashland Avenue at around 8 p.m. Monday night, authorities said. Fire officials said Bucio was searching for a 28-year-old man who witnesses said they saw jump from a boat into the river. At one point, Bucio lost communication with his dive partner during the rescue attempt, officials said. Authorities said he was later located and CPR was administered before he was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, where he later died. “An order was given to switch out divers to bring the second team in, give them a break,” Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said at a news conference. “At that time, they were coming towards the boat. His partner turned around and he was missing, that quick,” Santiago added. The CFD diver is 46-year-old Juan Bucio. According to the Chicago Fire Department he has two sons, ages seven and nine. He was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. Bucio joined the Chicago Fire Department in 2003. He became part of the dive team in 2007. He has nine siblings including a brother with the Chicago Fire Department and a sister with the Chicago Police Department. Two other divers were released from Northwestern Memorial. One of the divers was Bucio’s partner. SourceE: https://www.statter911.com/2018/05/29/chicago-firefighter-juan-bucio-dies-in-search-for-missing-boater/
  193. 2021 5 9 Villegas Rogel Jorge Chile SCUBA Aged 29, Diving from the 'Genesis II' at a Fish Farm in the Punta Valentino Sector on Dawson Island, South of Punta Arenas, recovered unconscious, did not respond to treatment. Declared deceased on arrival at Punta Arenas. No other details. Reported by subaquaticamadazine.es
  194. 2021 5 26 dos Santos Irenilson Marcos Brazil Hookah Aghed 25, gold mining raft on the Teles Pires river near the town of Alta Floresta, entered the water around 18:00 hours, after 35 minutes failed to respond to signals, gear pulled up but only brought up hose/regulator. Search diver found weightbelt. Body recovvered by SAR divers a day later. rdnews.com and other outlets.
  195. 2013 4 26 Tejedar Felix Italy Titan Topsides Philipino diver aged 54, one of the team working on salving the liner 'Costa Concordia' (Ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012, found dead in his shower. Apparently had not dived in the previous three days and police were not linking his death with his work. Gazzetta del Sud
  196. 2013 4 3 IMCA SF 5/13 UK IMCA On Deck Safety Flash regarding danger of explosion due to build up of internal Hydrogen/Oxygen atmosphere inside battery operated metocean buoys (Relates to death of Stig Erik Lyng in Malaysia in October 2012)
  197. 2012 4 27 Rhodes Randy R USA 4 SCUBA Aged 55, from Indiana, clearing zebra mussels from a water intake at a private residence on Keuka Lake, reported as surfacing and calling for help before sinking under the water about 18:15 hours, body recovered from 13' of water, 80' from the shore by rescuers who were on site within 5 minutes of receiving an emergency call at 18:20. Alive when pulled from the water but declared dead in hspital two hours later. Not counted in the 'working diver' fatality count as this appears to be a local resident clearing his own or a neighbour's water pipe on a Friday evening. Appears to have been a solo SCUBA diver. Sadly this death will not be remembered for the circumstances of the death but a very public argument between the New York State SCUBA team who claim to have rescued the unconscious diver and Wayne Fire Department Cold Water Response team who say they located the diver and Steuben County Dive Team volunteer members who say they then brought the diver to the surface. Steuben Courier
  198. 2012 4 22 Abu Khalil Hussein Ahmad Lebanon 50 SCUBA Aged 42, head of the Environment and Development department and the Marine Exploration Department, diving off the village of Qleileh, Tyre, inspecting a seafloor project designed to increase fish numbers. His body was located by a Navy SAR team the day after. Reported as having died of a heart attack. Dailystar.com.lb
  199. 2012 4 22 Sprout Brad Robert Mexico Global Diving and Salvage American, aged 29, Working a DP DSV ('Captain Tale'?off Cuidad del Carmen, may have been an umbilical in thruste/lost gas incident, no other details
  200. 2012 4 19 Simonini Lt. Vincent Italy Italian Navy Aged 37, Italian Navy diver working at the helicopter base at Luni (La Spezia), assisting in pool based helicopter ditching/evacuation training. Unconscious in the water, treated by medics on site but failed to respond to treatment. Reported as 'cardiac arrest'. Italian Press reports.
  201. 2012 4 18 Stovall Richard USA Stovall's SCUBA and Travel 12 SCUBA Aged 77, owner of PADI diving business in Midland, collecting underwater soil samples from the bed of the O H Ivie Resevoir on behalf of the Colorado River Municipal Water District prior to a dredging company removing silt from the pipe to the pumping station. Entered the water through a concrete tower on a pumping station in the resevoir, should have been a 10 minute dive, failed to surface. Body found two days later at the inshore end of a 350' long, 8' diameter pipe in a chamber below a pump station onshore. Appears to have been a solo dive, no stand-by or back up. San Angelo Standard Times
  202. 2012 4 14 Hampton Jarrod Arthur Australia Paspaley Pearls SCUBA Aged 22 from Brighton, Victoria, one of a six man commercial diving team wild pearling off 80 mile beach, 160 km south of Broome. Came to the surface 'distressed' and died at the scene. 8 hour vessel transit to Broome, investigation ongoing.
  203. 2012 4 13 Neve Nigel Gabon Topsides Acting as Company Site Representative on a DSV offshore Gabon, reported as possible stomach heamorrhage, no other etails. Longstreath blog
  204. 2012 4 12 Bogs Arsinas UAE Target Engineering 18 SS/Air Reported that a Philippino diver (Not IMCA certified, alledgedly refused certification by WCCD) was brought to the surface from depth without completing decompression (dive possibly aborted by supervisor because "diver was not performing adequately in the water"). After 10 minutes on deck, collapsed. Put in a DDC and treated (Table? Depth?) but did not respond. Transferred to hospital but died the day after. No investigation, reported to his family by the contractor that he 'died in his room of a heart attack' Possibly no medical, possibly not fit to dive. Reported by The Divers Association
  205. 2012 4 5 Craig Ryan USA Triangle Diving, Bermuda 3 Rebreather Aged 25, Canadian, described as an experienced commercial and technical diver, working as a diving instructor in Bermuda, died whilst using a closed circuit rebreather in 9' of water off Grotto Bay. The owner of triangle Diving Bermuda - his employer - is quoted as saying "Technical divers are used to losing people. We're on the cutting edge, exploring new frontiers and with any type of new frontier you will always have losses. We are experts in technical diving and have all the certifications, but accidents can happen". Bermuda Sun.
  206. 2011 4 27 Baumgartner Ottavio Italy Arte sub (La Specia) 4 S/S Air Aged 21, Edipower plant at Sermide near Mantova in Northern Italy. Cleaning water inlet grill. Scubapro full face mask, bailout, wet suit, air hose and communications line (but no strength line, video or pneumo). Reported that topsides heard his breathing rate rise, could not pull him out and put in the stand-by. After a 5 to 7 minute delay, the diver was found with his mask off. Did not respond to treatment. Three man team, IDSA qualification early 2010, water inlet from the river Po. PC and Gazzetta di Mantova
  207. 2011 4 26 Pizanias N Greece Topsides Aged 29, commercial diver/diving school instructor. Throwing dynamite sticks at an Easter clrebration, expolded in his hand, hospitalised in Kalymnos, transferred to Athens but lost his hand and permanently blinded in one eye. Two other men died in similar Easter celebration incidents on Rhodes. Reported by Kalymniansvoice.gr
  208. 2011 4 21 Catalan Hugo Amaliel Soto USA Erosion Barrier Installations 5 SCUBA Aged 23, employed out of Fort Lauderdale as one of a two man diving team surveying erosion on a man made lake at the Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club in Estero, surfaced and waved in distress but sank from sight before his partner onshore could reach him and could not be found in the murky water. His body was located 3 hours later by rescue divers. As the resue diver brought the body ashore they were followed by two snakes believed to be water moccasins (Shot and killed by shoreside deputies on alligator watch, one with a shotgun, the other an AR-15 rifle) His ditched gear was also recovered. 5 days after the death, Lee County Medical Examiner determined it was an accidental drowning. Reported in the Naples Valley News.
  209. 2011 4 19 Enriques Jesus "Chuy" Mexico 9 Aged 28 from Holbrox, Quintana Roo, sea cucumber harvesting 24 miles off Celustan, died underwater at about 14:00 hours. No details. Reported by Sipse.com
  210. 2011 4 14 Schneider Louis Cameroun Pecten Topsides Aged 60, Pioneer deep saturation trials diver with Comex (Janus, Aurora etc). Stabbed to death in a late night mugging in Douala. Cameroon.net
  211. 2011 4 10 Mitchell David UKCS Acergy Saturation Aged 49, bell run from the Acergy Osprey, returned to the bell, fell ill and died. Initial reports indicate a heart attack
  212. 2010 4 24 Sims Christopher USA Louisiana Oilfield Divers Topsides Aged 39 from Florida, returned onshore due to bad weather, went for a motorcycle ride, crashed off the road into a bayou, body found a day later after reported as missing. Reported as accidental drowning, not wearing a helmet. Houma Today. In March 2011 it was reported in the Louisiana Record that:- The family of a deceased seaman has filed a lawsuit against the man's employer for allegedly allowing him to drive a motorcycle while heavily intoxicated. “He was employed as a seaman, commercial diver and crewmember. When the vessel was ordered to return to shore because of inclement weather, he, along with his co-workers, were taken to the home of a Louisiana oilfield diver's supervisor where they were to remain on call and "on the clock" for further instructions'. The lawsuit claims that the diver's supervisors served their employees alcoholic beverages while waiting to return offshore. A supervisor allegedly supplied him with the keys to a motorcycle despite knowing that he had been drinking heavily. The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to properly plan for the evacuation, bunking and quartering the crew, providing alcoholic beverages to its crew, allowing and providing him with the keys to a motorcycle knowing that he had been drinking and failing to provide him with a safe and nonhazardous workplace�
  213. 2010 4 23 Salas Jonathon Michael Botello Panama Braswell Shipyard Int SA Aged 21, had been diving at the Braswell shipyard in Balboa (South East entrance to the Panama Canal) for just three months. Apparently ate a meal at noon and after a brief rest, entered the water, 'had a seizure' (Vomited) and drowned. Reported by critica.com.pa
  214. 2010 4 9 Bondrescu Sergeant-Major Emilian Marius Romania Fireman 5 Aged 35 or 36, had worked as a diver for 15 years with the Dolj fire services (ISU), on his day off, hired to work at the village of Radovan on the dam on lake Fantanele, asked to seal the entrance to a drainage pipe. Sucked under, drowned. Took two days to recover the body as nobody could safely get near the outlet. Diving solo, no team, no lifeline. Wife and four year old daughter. www.gds.ro
  215. 2010 4 8 Ojeda Rodrigo Argentina 30 Apparently the 32 year old diver was killed during construction of the Maldonado tunnel in Buenos Aries, possibly a decompression incident. All we know is that city mayor went into print in August saying he found it 'serious' that they had “failed to inform the company�, that the urban development minister and director of works “have concealed the death of a worker on the site that is the most important of his administration�. No other details. Reported in Diario Cronica and Partido de la Cuidad
  216. 2010 4 7 Al-Trabulsi Jonas USA S/S Air Aged 26, of Kemah, drowned while cleaning the hull of a boat and was found floating in the water, was pulled from the water near Waterford Harbor Marina after police were called to investigate. An autopsy performed Thursday listed the cause of death as a drowning, He was a contract hull cleaner and was cleaning a boat in the marina. The compressor he was using to get air was laying on its side when police arrived but it was unknown if that contributed at that time because there was some pressure left. Associated Press.
  217. 2009 4 16 Not Recorded Canada S/S Air South Thompson river, Lafarge bridge, Campbell Creek, near Kamloops. Press report says “ “Emergency crews were called in to rescue four people after a barge overturned, trapping one person underneath, “It sucked,� said one of the four workers stranded in the water. “We flipped and when we got up top, the boss called (the emergency services) and they were there in about five minutes.� The workers were doing regular maintenance of a water intake in the river when one of the ropes securing their barge snapped, the second line securing the barge remained intact, keeping the vessel stationary in the water. The operations manager said it’s unsettling to see workers in the water when they’re not supposed to be — especially at this time of year. All the workers were out of the water before the emergency services arrived and none suffered serious injuries.� No mention of diving, but the accompanying photograph shows two guys on the overturned hull of the barge dressed in dry-suits pulling a commercial, helmeted, surface supplied diver out of the water. Was this an overturned diving operation? No other details.
  218. 2009 4 5 Connor Melvin 'Chippy' Anguilla Fisherman SCUBA Aged 64, self employed diver/fisherman "He never worked for a man yet, from the time he was a boy all he did was dive", had been diving for lobster, conchs and welks since he was 16 (in 1960), described as a 'fit bachelor who had a plywood and fibreglass fishing boat (built by a relative) named the boat Victoria after the British Queen Victoria because his birthday, 24th May, fell on the same date as hers'. He was diving solo off Blowing point with matker buoy and flag and appears to have been run over around 09:00 hours by a 'Fun Time' charter vessel and died of propeller injuries. The Anguillian
  219. 2009 4 4 Daniel Yvon France SARL Kerioica SCUBA Aged 50, commercial diver and the manager of SARL Keroica, under contract to Armour Travaux Sous Marins, La Trinite sur Mer harbour, Pontoon inspection, solo, no stand-by,
  220. 2009 4 3 Guha Mrinal Kanti India National Diving Services 9 S/S Air Calcutta, Haldia dock complex (HDC). Clearing outer (Haldi River) side gate seal/runners. Diving partner (Halder) surfaced after 10 minutes, gasping. Guha did not surface. Standby divers found his body late in the day. Air hoses parted while they where underwater (Probably lightweight 'hookah' gear), no bailouts, lifelines. Report indicates confined space/penetration dive in zero visibility on gate runner mechanism. Reported in the Times of India
  221. 2009 4 3 Halder Meghnad India National Diving Services 9 S/S Air Calcutta, Haldia dock complex (HDC). Clearing outer (Haldi River) side gate seals/runners. Surfaced after 10 minutes, gasping. Hospitalised but reported OK. Standby divers recovered the body of his dive partner (Guha) later in the day. Air hoses parted while they where underwater (Probably lightweight 'hookah' gear), no bailouts, lifelines. Report indicates confined space/penetration dive in zero visibility on lock gate runner mechanism. Reported in the Times of India
  222. 2009 4 2 Coach Larry USA 2 SCUBA Aged 64, ran a diving business in Dallas, employed by Nacogdoches Soil and Water Conservation District (Conservation Agency), to unblock a 24� drainage/lake overflow pipe. Drove to site alone in his pick up, solo, SCUBA, no standby, lifeline or team. Started working at the inlet (upstream) end. Initial reports indicate that he removed the metal intake grill to get better access to the blockage, soon after bubbles stopped coming up. Rescue team blocked the exit (downstream) of the pipe with an air bag to reduce suction/flow and then recovered the diver from the inlet end using grapples. Had to remove harness/stab jacket to free body. Recovery operation took 30 hours (Entangled in debris some distance inside the pipe).
  223. 2009 4 1 Stevenson David “Luey� UK Technip Topsides Aged 44, working as a rigger onboard the DSV, died from injuries on board the DSV Wellservicer off the coast of Aberdeen. During fitting of a new active bell cursor system, he was working on top of the diving bell when the winch for the active bell cursor failed and fell on top of him. A report by the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) stated: "He was on top of the bell with his inertia reel fall arrester attached to his safety harness preparing for buoyancy block removal as the cursor was raised. A few seconds later, the winch rendered and the cursor fell uncontrollably. He attempted to get clear of the falling cursor but his inertia reel fall arrester locked in place, preventing any chance of escape. The cursor continued to fall, trapping him between it and the diving bell." The report said the winch failure was caused by a faulty valve in the winch control system, which prevented the brakes from applying once hydraulic power was removed. They further stated "The installation team failed to apply the most basic of safety principles while working under the suspended load. Regardless of whether the winch had been commissioned and declared fully functional, the cursor should have been supported by additional means, before anyone went underneath it." Reported in the Scotsman.
  224. 2008 4 28 Monreal Dwight USA SCUBA Aged 62, professional golf ball diver, Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, attacked by an alligator while retrieving balls from a lake near the 13th hole. Dislocated left shoulder and puncture wounds to his left arm. Officials said the 13th hole would be closed until the alligator was captured and killed.
  225. 2008 4 25 Rebolledo Andres Nelson Bustamente Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe 40 Chilean, aged 29, Salmon farm in central Butachauques, reported as DCI, died in hospital (inference is SCUBA and no DDC, to be confirmed) "Third diver to die in the industry this year. Reported that there have been 54 fatalities in the salmon industry since 2005. Ecoceane
  226. 2008 4 1 Edwards Darryl New Zealand SCUBA New Zealander, aged 54. Wellington harbour, inspecting the hull of a commercial charter vessel he had just hired. Reported as natural causes (a heart attack). Not a commercial diver.
  227. 2007 4 20 Kropidlowski Ken USA Orange County Sheriff's Department 9 SCUBA Orange County Sheriff's rescue diver rushed to a hospital with leg injuries after becoming entangled in a sunken sailboat while searching the wreckage for its missing owner. 18-year veteran of the department and a member of its dive team, he was 30-feet deep off a jetty in Newport Beach when he got tangled in debris about 11 a.m. and made an emergency ascent, "He was in extreme pain and had to be assisted onto the boat," ."He was rushed to harbor headquarters where an ambulance was waiting to take him to Hoag Hospital.He was treated for a torn ligament, his leg placed in a splint and released from the hospital on crutches, The 10-member dive team failed to find any trace of missing Phoenix boater William Eugene Ott during a two-hour search of the 30-foot sailboat.
  228. 2007 4 6 Billiter, USN Gregory J Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 36, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Killed in the same incident were two other divers, Petty Officer Joseph McSween, 26, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall, 24, of Burley, Idaho, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  229. 2007 4 6 Hall, USN Curtis R Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 22, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Killed in the same incident were two other divers, Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky., and Petty Officer Joseph McSween, 26, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  230. 2007 4 6 McSween,USN Joseph Adam Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 26, He was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Survived by wife and two daughters aged 5 and 2. Also killed in the same incident were two other divers, Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall, 24, of Burley, Idaho, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  231. 2007 4 1 Campbell Joseph Jamaica SCUBA Aged 35, found with extensive head wounds along with rope/tools. Speculation that he may have been attaching cannabis container to a cargo ship (Smuggling) . Severe head injuries compatible with propeller impact. At least three civilian commercial divers contracted by vessel operators to search hulls for contraband prior to departure have been murdered, searches now conducted by security services. Reported in the Jamaica Observer
  232. 2006 4 26 Martinez Stephen USA SCUBA BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. --aged 42, professional golf ball diver hired by the city to retrieve golf balls from a lake was attacked by a 9-foot alligator. The alligator apparently bit the diver's air tank and tried to pull him under the water. The diver tried to stab the animal and it bit his arm, He was treated at a hospital for injuries similar to a dog bite. NB, Mark Feher, also a professional golf ball diver drowned on this course in 2001.
  233. 2006 4 23 Rig 'Maersk Giant' Norway Maersk Jack Up, blow out (Hit shallow gas)
  234. 2006 4 9 Villanueva Lorenzo Chile Pesquera San Jorge SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Hornopiren, Commercial diver, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  235. 2005 4 24 Baker Patrick Allan Canada SCUBA Aged 33, drowned whilst retrieving golf balls at the Saint Andrew by the Lake golf course, Penticton, British Columbia. No other details. Reported by Outdoor News Wire
  236. 2005 4 1 DLB Regina Crane incident India CCC 75 Saturation DLB Regina 250, (Valentine Maritime, Abu Dhabi). Main crane collapsed over sat system dive control, bell LARS and HLB during a two man bell run. Both video and photos clearly show the extent of the damage to the dive system with the crane boom draped over the HLB/sat system. Bell handling system rendered inoperable, divers through-water transfer to a second DSV. Reported that the Regina went to Gujerat for major repairs to the dive system/bell handling equipment and crane before returing to work a couple of weeks later. Sat dive sequence:- Dive 86:- 17:35 Bell Sealed. 17:45 BLS. 17:50 BOB, commence diver lock out. 17:52 Crane collapsed on dive system. 17:55 Bell sealed at 75m. 17:57 Divers report 'OK". 18:25 Main bell wire secured on surface. 18:30 standing by on DSV "Sevak" for through water transfer. 19:39 DSV "Sevak" on site. 20:13 After discussion between Supv/Supt of both vessels, decide to use "Regina" bell umbilicals/helmets for transfer. 21:44 "Sevak" diver established swimline to "Regina" Bell, 21:55 Diver 1 in water, 22:02 Diver 1 in "Sevak" bell. 22:14 Diver 1 umbilical and hat secured back onto "Regina' Bell by "Sevak" diver. 22:18 Diver 2 in water. 22:22 Diver 2 in "Sevak" bell. 22:44 "Sevak" diver secured diver 2 umbilical onto "Regina" Bell, 22:45, transfer complete. The second DSV was the 'Samudra Sevak" (built 1988, 11 man Comanex dive system) which was also on hire to ONGC at the time. PC
  237. 2004 4 25 DSV 'Ocean Winsertor' Indonesia Topsides In transit from East Timor to Singapore, off Lingga Island, 12 armed pirates boarded the DSV and robbed the crew at gun point. No deaths, minor injuries. Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.
  238. 2004 4 23 Buttrey Curtis USA 18 SCUBA American, aged 41, Contract diver working for the St Paul Regional Water Services, in Vadnais lake, cleaning water plant intake filter, at end of dive he and his partner left the job site but he failed to surface, apparently got caught in some weeds and cables. His body was recovered about three hours later. Drowned. No explanation. Reported in Star Tribune (MN)
  239. 2004 4 16 Yusof Kadis Singapore Described as a freelance commercial diver who carried on diving after an underwater welding accident in 2003 left him with a burnt face, 'failed to surface after fixing tanker'. No other details. Straits Times
  240. 2004 4 11 Kneen Christopher UAE SCUBA International SCUBA British, aged 19, sucked into a pipe, desalination plant at Fujairah, UAE. Sports/tourist SCUBA diver doing a commercial dive, diving instructor who sent him to the plant was found guilty of causing death, plant operators were not held responsible for not turning off the pump that sucked him in.
  241. 2003 4 12 Williams Douglas USA NW Diving and Marine SCUBA American, 42 year old, just North of the Hood Canal Bridge, using a drill u/w to install buoy anchors, entangled, umbilcal wrapped around neck, asphyxiated or drowned. No other details, reported in the Spokesman review and Moscow Pullman Daily News.
  242. 2003 4 0 Not Recorded UK In April 2003, a hazardous incident was reported to the HSE, which involved divers changing seals on a propulsion shaft while a vessel was alongside. Although the engines had been isolated and a diving permit to work was in place, the engines were started by the engineers shortly after a watch change. There were no reported injuries. This incident referenced in MAIB report 3/2009 into the 'Norma' thruster incident in June 2008. No other details
  243. 2002 4 30 Buckland Paul William Australia 10 SCUBA Australian, aged 23, professional scallop diver, Shark attack. Was wearing a "shark pod" (Electric shark repellor), may not have been switched on at depth but was on at time of attack on the surface. May have been incorrectly fitted (electrode position). Recommendation from coroner that at all commercial and recreational divers working in waters where the presence of sharks is a risk should wear at shark repellent device.
  244. 2002 4 30 Not Recorded UK Police 42 SCUBA Police dive team trying to recover the bodies of three family members from the hull of their vessel that sank off the South Downs Coast, two divers surfaced, one with pains in arms and shoulders, the second with ruptured eardrums, treated in a DDC, OK
  245. 2002 4 0 Not Recorded Australia 3 SCUBA Deckhand on lobster boat trying to free a snagged pot in 2.7 metres, drowned, skipper fined $20,000, no stand-by diver, not anchored (live boating, engine running).
  246. 2000 4 20 Primavera Eric Joseph USA Denizens of the Deep S/S Air American, aged 30. Inspecting pilings on the South Cargo Pier at Port Canaveral, told topsides he was in trouble, standby diver found him entangled with helmet off, drowned. Citations/$14,700, The Ledger/NAOCD/cDiver
  247. 2000 4 15 Rig 'Al Mariyah' UAE Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co. Jack up. Located over wellhead platform 94 (Umm Shaif field), skidding derrick, collapsed (failed jacking system). POB 68, 4 fatalities. After lay up was rebuilt by Arab Contractors Bahrain (2006) for NDC
  248. 2000 4 1 Connor Gary 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.
  249. 2000 4 0 Not Recorded Canada SCUBA Aged 36. A commercial diver with 12 years experience was drawn into a 30" diameter aerator intake pipe while attempting to locate the screens for two fire pump intakes. The pulp mill hired a diving company to inspect and clean two intake screens in their industrial effluent pond. Both parties thought that the work had been planned and all hazards identified. The pumps for the two intakes to be worked on had been identified and locked out. The diver, after entering the water with zero visibility, thought he had located the fire pump intakes when he was drawn into a nearby aerator intake pipe. The screen for this intake pipe had broken off and the diver was pulled, head first, 80 feet up the pipe. As the aerator intake pipe had not been identified on the drawings used, the 3 5,000 litre per minute aerator pump had not been locked out. There were no visual markers on the surface of the pond to identify the aerator or fire pump intakes. Worksafe Canada. Plus an OHS article in 2004 "It seems that Newfoundland's experience is also Canada's experience. In British Columbia, for example, there have been 33 workplace deaths in the commercial diving industry since 1975. The most recent fatality occurred in April, 2000 when a 36-year-old diver died while conducting maintenance work at a pulp mill"
  250. 2000 4 0 Not Recorded USA During 1989-1997, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recorded 116 occupational diving fatalities in the United States (OSHA, unpublished data, 1998) 13 deaths per year. 49 five per year occurred among an estimated 3000 full-time commercial divers. The average of five deaths per year corresponds to a rate of 180 deaths per 100,000 employed divers per year, which is 40 times the national average death rate for all workers. This group, which accounts for most of the commercial dive time underwater, includes divers involved in construction, maintenance, and inspection of vessels and structures such as oil rigs, bridges, and dams. The remaining 67 deaths occurred among workers who were not full-time divers; these include seafood harvest divers, search and rescue divers, scientific divers, dive instructors, and non-military federal agency divers. Note from TC, this incidents list contains potential reference to less than 50% of OSHA reported cases in the USA
  251. 1998 4 22 Rozhkov Andrei Arctic Moscow State University Diving Club 50 SCUBA First attempt at underwater exploration of the North Pole, Russian firefighter and diver with the support of the Diving Club of Moscow State University, inexplicably went limp and died minutes into a solo dive. Team members later said they'd seen mysterious spotlights and heard a deafening "sonar ping" right before his death, prompting speculation that a patrolling Russian submarine may have caused his demise. Not confirmed, Cause of death reported as heart attack). The next attempted dive at the North Pole was organized by the same club next year, on April 24, 1999, and was successful. The divers were Michael Wolff (Austria), Brett Cormick (UK) and Bob Wass (USA)
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