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Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 1974 1 116 Skipnes Per Norway Ocean Systems 77 Saturation Norwegian, aged 37. "Drill Master", bell drop weights released, bell to surface with doors open, double fatality (Smythe).
  3. 1921 8 39 De Gaetano Vincent USA Merrit and Chapman Wrecking Company S/S Air Harlem river, tangled in lines, did not respond to treatment
  4. 1978 11 36 Ward Mike UK Northern Divers 116 Saturation British, aged 25. Beryl Alpha, DSV "Star Canopus", DP incident inside anchor pattern, lost bell, double fatality (Prangley), hypothermia, drowning
  5. 2013 3 31 MacLeod Iain UK SCUBA Aged 44, diving on the anchor of a creel boat in Bosta Beach, Great Bernera (Isle of Lewis), not a sports dive, but unclear if it was a paid/working dive. No other details. BBC
  6. 2012 7 31 Van D Truong Vietnam Pearl or clam diver Aged 25, diver at a fish farm (pearls or clams) in Phu Yen Province. Resident in Ho Chi Minh City, returned to his home povince in July and went diving for clams. Developed high fever and headache on July 29th, the following day was hospitalised at the Nhan Dan Gia Dinh hospital in Ho Chi Minh city then transferred to the Tropical diseases hospital, treatment ineffectual as infection had spread from his nasal passages to the brain leading to Meningitis, fell into a coma, suffered three cardiac and respiratory arrests, was asked to be released on the 31st by his family, died in transit to his home. Subsequent tests confirmed he was infected with Naegleria fowleri. Amoeba was known to be endemic in Vietnam since in 1965, known as the 'brain eating amoeba', typically found in warm fresh water. Can invade humans and attackthe nervous sytem (rare) but when it occurs, typically has a 98% fatality rate. Of 121 cases reported in the USA since 1937, only one survivor. Reported in VietNamNet Bridge
  7. 2012 3 31 Kay Marson Ashly USA Karst Underwater Research 54 SCUBA Aged 29, volunteer diver, one of a six man team from Karst Underwater Research (A not-for-profit organisation that maps and measures flow and water quality of underwater springs for state agencies and water management districts in Florida), diving with three others at the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. The group had descended to about 180' and as they ascended he took a different route and became wedged, possibly trapped by water flow (at about 100' depth), the team members tried but failed to release him. Rescue divers got to him in under three minutes from leaving the surface when the first group surfaced and raised the alarm, but found him dead with his regulator out and mask pushed onto his forehead. Body brought to the surface an hour later. The Ledger.com. The autopsy concluded death was caused by an air embolism (specifically, that an air bubble had lodged in his heart and blocked the blood supply to the lungs) and the medical examiner ruled it as an accidental death. Karst U/W research quoted as saying "Instead of following the ropes as he had done multiple times in the past, Marson rapidly moved into a restrictive area of the crevasse. It is believed that this behaviour was not calculated but a reaction caused by the affect of an air embolism he incurred while rapidly ascending from depth. Typically, this condition causes profound changes in mental functioning, including disoriientation, blindness, paralysis, seizures and loss of consciousness within minutes or even seconds of onset. If it occurs after surfacing, it is often fatal or profoundly disabling even with prompt recompression therapy. When it occurs underwater, the incapacity or unconsciousness it causes almost always results in drowning". Hernando Today. This fatality has not been included as a commercial diving fatality as this seems to be a weekend cave diving group using 'research' as a means of gaining access to cave systems that might otherwise be off-limits (TC).
  8. 2011 3 31 van Delft Anton Lybia Aged 62, dive team leader working for Zwaytina Zwaytina Oil Company near Ajdabiyah. With two diving companions stayed on site rather than evacuating during the civil war. Compound was raided/looted by government supporters, detained two days, all three escaped to Benghazi. Reported that most of his medicines were lost/confiscated, rationed himself but suffered seizures and died of 'epilepsy'. Reported by Nu.nl
  9. 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
  10. 2010 3 31 Casagrande Jean Christophe, known as 'Cox' Morocco Hydrokarst 53 SCUBA French (Albigensian) , aged 42, dive to recover a current metre at the site of the commercial freeport 'Tangier med 2000' at Ksar Sghir. Sub contract from SRPTM (Société Réalisation Port Tanger Méditerranée, a Saipem/Bougues company). Reported that his cylinders came to surface and he was found unconscious on the seabed, recovered to the surface by diver two, did not respond to treatment. Experienced diver, had been working with the same contractor since 2004. Engaged to be married. Ongoing investigation. PC plus Bladi.net and ladepeche.fr
  11. 2009 1 31 Greenfield Sapper Sean Afghanistan Canadian soldier Topsides Aged 25, died after his armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb about 40 kilometres west of Kandahar. He was a member of 24 Field Engineer Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group. He was described by Padre Roy Laudenorio as a dependable combat engineer and diver. His Commander described Greenfield as an exceptionally fit soldier who recently completed a combat diver's course and aspired to join Canada's elite JTF2 special forces team. (Included for information, a diver, but not working as a diver so not counted as a diving fatality TC) Reported by CBC.ca
  12. 2005 8 31 Mars TLP USA Shell The TLP housed both production and drilling facilites, including the Helmerich & Payne H&P 201 drilling rig. The installation was shut-in prior to the hurricane. Katrina toppled the derrick, which caused major damage to the rig floor and substructure. Later inspection found no underwater damage at the platform, but the topside damage was extensive and the platform was expected to remain unproductive until repairs were completed in 2006. Oil Rig Disasters
  13. 2005 8 31 Rig 'Ocean Warwick' USA Diamond Offshore After breaking loose from its moorings in Main Pass Block, the Ocean Warwick drifted 66 nautical miles before finally running aground on Dauphin Island, Alabama.The Ocean Warwick suffered major damage as a result of Katrina, including the loss of its derrick and the eventual removal of the remains of the rig's legs during salvage operations. The Ocean Warwick was towed away on the 10th Oct 2005 to the Atlantic Marine dock yard in Mobile, Alabama for repairs. The rig was inspected and eventually written off in November 2005 due to extensive damage. The rig had been insured for US$50 million. Oil Rig Disasters
  14. 2005 8 31 Rig 'Rowan New Orleans' USA Jack Up, Capssed and Sank, Hurricane Katrina
  15. 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.
  16. 2004 7 31 Benton Liston Darren USA Aged 37, former Navy diver and Gulf War veteran. Greenville County pond (private pond near Jones Gap State Park) Trying to move a bucket clogging a drain , when brought to the surface, he was wearing everything but his mask and all his equipment was intact. Reported that as he removed the drain plug to empty the pond his arm was pulled into the outlet, trapping him. Emergency services called within 10 minutes (By his wife, he was diving solo). The Greenville County dive team found him a short time later, but it took more than a dozen men to pull him free of the suction holding him in place. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Reported by WIS
  17. 2001 12 31 Feher Mark USA SCUBA Aged 21, professional golf ball diver, working on the links at Boynton beach with his brother. Both on SCUBA but . Reported as an experienced diver, failed to surface at the end of the dive, recovered by his brother, drowned, no details. St. Petersburg Times
  18. 2000 10 31 Lubsey Carl Jamaica Police Topsides One of two specialist divers who searched for drugs under the hulls of ships killed within two weeks of each other (The other was Donovan Henry, killed 14th October), was probably slain because he turned down bribes for several million dollars, according to police sources. According to reports, several attempts had been made to bribe Carl Lubsey but that he'd refused the offers. The police reported that at about 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31, Mr. Lubsey was on his way to Rocky Point to check the ship Orlent River II, which had been docked at the Rocky Point Port, Clarendon, to collect alumina. Police reports at the time said Lubsey was driving his Nissan pick-up on the Rocky Point Pier Road when a grey car drove up behind him. Occupants in the car opened fire hitting him and he lost control of his vehicle which crashed. The gunmen came out of the car and opened fire again, hitting him all over his body. He died on the spot. Senior Superintendent Carl Williams, the island's narcotics' chief, said the police believed the divers were killed because of their occupation and hinted that there could be a breakthrough in another week. However, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said hat while both cases were being investigated, the lawmen were yet to effect an arrest. The Jamaica Gleaner
  19. 1995 7 31 Westell Bradley UK Stena 26 Saturation British. DSV "Orelia". Shallow saturation, DP, tied off umbilical released, caught in thruster. Head injuries and multiple trauma. Supervisor fined for erasing black box tape, family awarded £104,000 in compensation, Contractor fined £200, 000
  20. 1992 12 31 Schumacher Arthur E USA SCUBA Aged 46, assistant chief in charge of rescue with with the Liverpool township fire department, searching for victims of a car crash in Plum creek, trapped in a culvert, drowned. Akron Beacon Journal.
  21. 1992 3 31 Not Recorded USA SCUBA "Baltimore fire officials recovered the body of a diver who apparently got into trouble (failed to surface) while working on the hull of a vessel at Berth 5 of the Dundalk Marine Terminal". The diver may have had a safety line, unclear whether he was trapped under the vessel or injured underwater, on site treatment was carried out, but he failed to respond to treatment. No other details. Reported in the Baltimore Sun
  22. 1990 8 31 Mortimer Michael USA SCUBA Aged 31, Lake Worth fire fighter, recreational dive for lobster off Juno Beach in the notorious 'mini-season'. Died due to air in this cylinder being contaminated carbon monoxide. Reported in the Miami Herald. Later, it was reported in the Sun Sentinel that “Attorney Tracy R. Sharpe, who represents the victim's widow, said he thought the carbon monoxide got into the tank when [Michael R. Mortimer] filled it with oxygen from a larger oxygen tank that National Weldco of Miami had delivered to his home� (Doubtful it was oxygen for a sports lobster dive, probably decanting air, but still no explanation of where the CO came from, TC)
  23. 1986 7 31 Cibulski Joel USA Aged 30, working off the fishing vessel 'Rigorous' anchored off Baker Island (off the West Coast of Prince of Wales Island) according to Alaska state troopers, trying to free another trawler's propeller. Apparently got entangled in the net and cut his own air line, pulled from the water unconscious, declared dead on arrival at Ketchichan Hospital. Anchorage Daily News.
  24. 1983 3 31 Burgess William Australia Diver awarded $302,304. The Canberra Times Thursday 31 March 1983. Diver awarded $302,304 SYDNEY: A professional diver, critically injured when the direct-drive engine of a harbour ferry started as he was inspecting its propeller, was awarded $302,304 damages in the Supreme Court yesterday. The diver, Mr. John William Burgess, had his right arm cut off above…� Date of award, not incident.
  25. 1978 3 31 Fewer Douglas USA NOAA 14 SCUBA 23 years old, from Broooklyn, diving with a colleague in the New York Bight off Long Island collecting water samplers. His dive partner said that Fewer disappeared while they were working. The diver was found unconscious and picked up by a Coastguard cutter and then transferred to Air Force hekicopter and flown to Groton (Connecticut) for treatment, but declared dead on arrival there. No details. Virgin Islands Daily News.
  26. 1957 3 31 Rig 'Mr Gus 1' USA Jack Up, punch through, listed, collapsed, 1 fatality
  27. 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
  28. 1950 8 31 Not Recorded France "Diver Blown up in Launch Explosion. A diver was blown to pieces at St. Nazaire yesterda when the …" Report dated 1st September 1950. No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Western Morning News/The British Newspaper Archive
  29. 1942 12 31 Anderson, RN R Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  30. 1942 12 31 Bonnell, RCNVR, DSC Lt. G Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  31. 1942 12 31 Goss, RN Sub.Lt G Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  32. 1942 12 31 Kerr, RN Lt. K Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  33. 1942 12 31 Mappleback, RN R Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  34. 1942 12 31 Pridham, RN P Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  35. 1942 12 31 Revethan B Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  36. 1942 12 31 Rickwood, RN M Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  37. 1942 12 31 Sargent, RNVR Sub-Lt. J Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  38. 1942 12 31 Stretton-Smith, RNVR Lt. S Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  39. 1942 12 31 Submarine P-311 Sardinia Military Submarine HMS P311, only unnamed T-class submarine (Was due to have been named "Tutenkhamen"). Fitted to carry 2 human torpedoes (Chariots). Lost while engaged in Operation Principle, a chariot attack on Italian cruisers at La Maddalena. Left Scotland in November 1942 with sister-boats Thunderbolt and Trooper after addition of human torpedo deck-mounted watertight containers direct for Malta. From there, sailed with two (Or three, accounts differ) Chariots (10 charioteers) for Operation Principle. Last signal on 31st December. Probably sunk by Italian mines in the approaches to Maddalena. Lost with all 80+ hands
  40. 1940 7 31 Whipple W. O. USA Aged 32, rigger/diver employed at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, sucked feet first into a 40' horizontal pipe, around two right angle bends and then down 35 ' through a 24� pipe on a dry dock. His helmet was ripped off, possible broken neck, it took two and a half hours to extract him from the pipe. (dive was to cap the outlet of the pipe on the new dry dock). Spokane Daily Chronicle
  41. 1934 7 31 Bee John UK S/S Air "Diver's death, John Bee, 54, of Queens Road, Portsmouth, a diver employed in salving of the sunken german fleet in the Orkney, died from heart failure on a salvage vessel…" " collapsed and died on deck of salvage vessel 'Bertha' after emerging from air lock." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Hull Daily Mail/The British Newspaper Archive. “DIVER DIES AFTER A JOKE� Mr. John Bee, a diver, aged 54, of Portsmouth, who was employed in the salving of the sunken German fleet at Scapa Flow for ten years, died suddenly after finishing work on the sunken warship ‘Bayern’ a few weeks ago. The diver had been joking with his comrades in the salvage boat Bertha after emerging from the air lock just before his collapse. The Canberra Times
  42. 1892 12 31 Fairchild Adoniram USA S/S Air "Diver Killed By Dynamite." ". …to the diver. And reply was received they began immediately pulling up. When the diver was brought to the surface, was found to...." "A Diver Killed. An unusual and painfully sad accident occurred on Friday at New York harbour. While a diver was below placing dynamite in the prepared borings, an explosion took place which was clearly indicated to those in charge of the work." (NB This incident is also reported in early January 1893 but appears to have happened in late December 1892) No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Derby Daily Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive. Dual report for the death of Adrian Fairchild (Same date). Boston Evening Transcript
  43. 1892 12 31 Fairchild Adrian USA S/S Air “Adrian Fairchild, for forty years a diver In the employ of the city was at work on the north bed of the river ramming a charge of dynamite........� No other details, Los Angeles Times
  44. 1991 1 31 Bailey Clifford Wilfred Bangor, Wales SAR Diving Cliff Bailey died in what appears to be a Delta P incident while working with SAR diving while carrying out routine maintenance work on a pipeline running between Anglesey and Holy Island. Source: Emails from Cliff Bailey's Sister.
  45. 2013 1 30 Lazzaro George H USA Aged 41, married with four children, described as an engineering technician, killed in an incident around 14:30 while conducting 'routine underwater test infrastructure maintenance' at the US Army UNDEX Test Facility (UTF) 'super pond' at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The UTF is 1070 feet long, 150 feet deep. First death since the facilty ewas opened in 1995. NB, this fatality was followed by a double fatality less than a month later (James Reyher/Ryan Harris, 26th February 2013). No details. www.exploreharford.com
  46. 2012 10 30 Not Recorded Tonga SCUBA Diving illegally for sea cucumber on Tungua in the outlying Ha'apai islands, 'symptoms were consistent with decompression sickness'. SCUBA diving for sea cucumbers is illegal under the Tonga Fisheries Act. Two other free-diving sea cucumber fishrermen died in the previous seven days, one off the Northern coast of 'Atata island - leg caught in nylon line - the other from Patangata was found dead on the reef by other fishermen returning from Pangaimotu island. Reported by Matangi Tonga Online
  47. 2011 10 30 Robinson Russell UKCS ISS Saturation Aged 33, Working at the Balmoral Field. Reported as returned to the bell at the end of his lock out saying he felt unwell, passed out, did not respond to treatment. Waiting on reports. Times UK, PC
  48. 2011 3 30 Bradley Richard Australia Technip 240 Saturation Aged 35, Australian from Broome, sat diving operations off the DSV “Oceania Venturer� (Ex CSO 'Venturer', ex Seabex 1'?), marine growth cleaning with an HP water jet. Gun mechanical failure, severe left forearm wounds (water, debris etc). Emergency decompression, medivac, will be off work six months. Reported in the Western Australian
  49. 2010 8 30 Mieses Kelvin Dominican Republic S/S Air Aged 24, reports unclear, but appears to have been a decompression incident related to long or deep surface supplied air dive during which the compressor failed preventing him from undertaking decompression stops. Treated at the local El Seibo hospital and referred to regional hspital in San Pedro de Macoris where he died. Unclear if there was a back up air supply, a bailout or if there was a DDC on site or at either hospital. Reported in diariolibre.com
  50. 2010 3 30 Han Warrant Officer Joo-Ho South Korea South Korean Navy 24 SCUBA Aged 53, a member of one of the underwater demolition teams attempting to rescue potential trapped survivors in the hull of the 1,200 tonnes Naval vessel “Cheonan� (Sank late 26th after an explosion split her in two 105 miles from the west coast port of Incheon just south of the disputed border line, 58 crew rescued, 46 missing). Reported as becoming unconscious in the water after a dive to 24 metres, brought up and transferred to a nearby US Navy hospital ship 'Salvo', but died. He joined the Navy in 1975 when he was 18, survived by his wife and two children. A South Korean fishing boat that participated in the search operation went into missing 01/04/2010, killing two people and leaving seven others missing. AP Later reports that the Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo. Strategy World, Los Angeles times, Telegraph etc
  51. 2010 3 30 Not Recorded South Korea South Korean Navy 24 SCUBA Two members of the 170 divers in the underwater demolition teams injured attempting to rescue potential trapped survivors in the hull of the 1,200 tonnes Naval vessel “Cheonan� (Sank late 26th after an explosion split her in two 105 miles from the west coast port of Incheon just south of the disputed border line, 58 crew rescued, 46 missing). Reported as being hospitalised on the same day as a colleague, warrant officer Joo-Ho Han, died. AP. Later reported that the Cheonan was sunk by a mine or torpedo.
  52. 2009 11 30 Jao Peter Philippines CJMS Diving Services Topsides Dive team working at the gas powered power plant in Limay. Paraphrased from press reports:- “A diver died while a colleague is in critical condition after they entered a nine-meter chlorination tank inside the power plant in Alangan, Limay, Bataan, last Monday. The newly designated police chief reported that Peter Jao, a diving expert of the CJMS Diving Services, did not reach the hospital alive. He suffered broken ribs and skull. The police report stated that the cause of the falling incident was due to a foul odor that the victim inhaled while climbing the ladder on his way out of the chlorination tank. As Jao fell into the cemented flooring of the chlorination tank, his companion identified as Nenito Quintana, also a diver, went down the tank and tried to rescue him. Quintana was assisted by other employees using a crane. As Quintana was climbing the ladder on his way out, he also fell. Rescuers rushed Quintana into the St. Michael Hospital in Orion town. Investigation showed that the two victims proceeded to the chlorination tank at around 9 a.m. Monday to open the water intake valve from the sea. After opening the valve, Jao climbed the ladder but fell after he allegedly inhaled a poisonous substance inside�. Reported in the Manila Bulletin. NB. The power plant uses LPG from the local refinery which reported a death and two unconscious at the sour water treatment plant in September and a vessel chief officer and two seamen injured when a loading hose parted in August (Manila Times)
  53. 2009 11 30 Quntana Nenito Philippines CJMS Diving Services Topsides Dive team working at the gas powered power plant in Limay. Paraphrased from press reports:- “A diver died while a colleague is in critical condition after they entered a nine-meter chlorination tank inside the power plant in Alangan, Limay, Bataan, last Monday. The newly designated police chief reported that Peter Jao, a diving expert of the CJMS Diving Services, did not reach the hospital alive. He suffered broken ribs and skull. The police report stated that the cause of the falling incident was due to a foul odor that the victim inhaled while climbing the ladder on his way out of the chlorination tank. As Jao fell into the cemented flooring of the chlorination tank, his companion identified as Nenito Quintana, also a diver, went down the tank and tried to rescue him. Quintana was assisted by other employees using a crane. As Quintana was climbing the ladder on his way out, he also fell. Rescuers rushed Quintana into the St. Michael Hospital in Orion town. Investigation showed that the two victims proceeded to the chlorination tank at around 9 a.m. Monday to open the water intake valve from the sea. After opening the valve, Jao climbed the ladder but fell after he allegedly inhaled a poisonous substance inside�. Reported in the Manila Bulletin. NB. The power plant uses LPG from the local refinery which reported a death and two unconscious at the sour water treatment plant in September and a vessel chief officer and two seamen injured when a loading hose parted in August (Manila Times)
  54. 2009 8 30 Not Recorded Kazakhstan Kazair Services SAR exercise Basic details reported as an air rescue exercise in which three local divers were dropped into the water from a Helicopter. A body has now been found with the life jacket uninflated. The recovery crew pulled the jacket inflation on recovering the body and it functioned correctly. Additional, but as yet unconfirmed reports, indicated that Kazair services employed three divers from a local diving contractor who were deployed from the helicopter, that a vessel in the area decided it was a good opportunity to launch its FRC during the exercise.(Not planned) and it was that FRC which recovered the second diver (it is assumed the first diver was recovered by helicopter), the third diver disappeared under the water and his helicopter lifejacket failed to inflate. Personal communication, TC
  55. 2008 8 30 Not Recorded Malaysia DOF 55 Saturation DSV Geosea, relocating spoolpiece with air bags, uncontrolled lift of spoolpiece dragged diver 2 from 55m to 36m, lost comms/video, both divers locked back in, OK, no holdbacks on liftbags.
  56. 2008 3 30 Rudolphi Juan Fernando Chile Fish Farm Reported as dying in an industrial accident at the Mirasol Commercial salmon farm, no details,. Ecoceane
  57. 2007 10 30 Loveria Tim USA Poterdam 6 SCUBA 46 year old from Conklin, New York, diving contractor out of New York, drowned Tuesday in Panguitch Lake, Utah. Failed to surface at about 1 p.m. He was removing a temporary dam his team had installed to allow water to be pumped out of a channel that crews were trying to dig deeper, Garfield County sheriff's deputies wrote in a statement. Other divers on the team found Loveria under 18 feet of water. Reported in Deseret News
  58. 2005 9 30 Earnest India Excise Aged 30, fisherman, was regularly engaged by the Excise to assist them in raids on marshy areas. Died on raid on an illicit brewery during a crackdown, drowned while attempting to fish out 'wash' stored in jerry cans and dumped into a marsh for fermentation. The team seized 25 litres of hooch from the area. A spokesman of the Excise Department said Earnest's leg got entangled in the net spread on the marsh bed to hold the cans in position. The body was retrieved with the help of the local people after 25 minutes. Reported in 'The Hindu'
  59. 2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 1 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. Initially reported simply as "Liftboat, 'somebody' started the engine, umbilical caught in wheel, diver pulled to the surface and killed in the wheel". Further investigation revealed he was British, Aged 31, living in Seattle, diving from a "backup jack-up" vessel to repair a riser in shallow water off Southeast Louisiana near the mouth of the Mississippi River. He was killed when his umbilical was caught in the propeller of the vessel. His death was classified as death resulting from the trauma of the propeller strikes and drowning. The OSHA report summary simply states "On July 30, 2005, Employee #1 was performing supplied-air diving operations in water about 8 to 10 ft deep. The dive took place about 8 to 12 ft from the stern of a twin screw jack-up boat (a boat with the wheelhouse located at the bow of the vessel). A predive safety briefing was held that morning. Employee #1 began a dive at 3:20 p.m. and had been on the bottom about 10 to 15 minutes when his air line was caught by the port propeller of the boat. He was killed. Investigation of the port power-train of the boat revealed that a worn clutch in the port power train resulted in the port propeller turning under the torque of the engine at all times" additional details in entries 2 and 3 below
  60. 2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 3 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. The Investigation:- The Delise and Hall Investigation concluded that the death of the diver was caused by supervisor error and unseaworthy condition of the vessel. The supervisor testified that he was confused by the configuration of the vessel as a "backup" or "reverse" jack-up vessel and did not realize that the props were at the end of the vessel from which the divers were working. The supervisor was inexperienced and had no certification as a supervisor. A JSA (not done) would have established the risk of a diver diving in close proximity to the vessel's props and would have called for a "tag-out, lock-out" of the vessel's controls (Some experts also suggested that a chain-lock of the prop should have been called for). Even more inexperienced was the dive tender (First job tending a diver, his second day of employment with the diving contractor, had graduated from dive school that week). Evidence indicates that the tender let out approximately three times the usual amount of umbilical hose for this shallow a job thereby allowing the hose to slack and be drawn into the propeller. Without the failure of the vessel's transmission (Propellers engaged – even when not ‘in gear’ - when engine running to power crane) this accident would not have occurred. Additionally, the vessel's captain did not follow company protocol to completely jack the vessel out of the water. He further left the controls unattended while he operated the crane and agreed to position the vessel such that the divers had no real choice but to dive from the stern. All testimony in this case indicated that the propeller "free spin" phenomenon was common to jack up vessels. Witnesses testified as to having observed it previously on other vessels (there had been a similar transmission failure on a sister vessel). The USCG inspect for "free spin". The point vessel owner was aware of the potential danger and failed to warn anyone of such or follow any type of lockout/tag out system. The Delise and Hall concluded that there were seven serious root causes of the fatality:- 1. The dive supervisor's allowance of a work site near propellers without a "tag out – lock out" procedure in place. 2. The supervisor's ignorance concerning the layout of the vessel; 3. The vessel captain's failing to lift the vessel completely out of the water and to allow diving operations to commence with a dangerous "free spin" of the propeller caused by a faulty transmission and/or clutch; 4. The vessel captain's "cowing down" to the general contractor's direction; 5. Failure of the supervisor to follow established policies and procedures established by his employer's Safe Diving Practices Operations Manual; 6. Failure of the diving supervisor to establish and implement a Job Safety Analysis; 7. Failure of the dive supervisor assure that the tender was experienced and familiar with company and industry procedures. reported by Delise and Hall.
  61. 2005 7 30 Chapman John - entry 2 of 3 USA Triton 5 S/S Air John Chapman. The Incident:- The dive plan was to locate a leak in the pipeline, hand jet the pipeline to trace the line and determine if it could be lifted followed by a repair of the leak onboard the vessel.  Due to crossing lines, the main contractor directed that the damaged portion of the line be cut and a clamp installed. This required that the repaired section be lifted from bottom and replaced underwater utilizing divers and the vessel's crane. The three leg jack-up had its wheelhouse at its bow, hence the name "backup jack-up". Unlike conventional jack-up vessels, the propellers of the vessel are located at the opposite end of the vessel from the wheelhouse. The vessel was positioned stern to the platform. The vessel was not, as was required by the vessel owner's operation manual, fully jacked out of the water (which left the propellers in the water). The dive station was set up at the stern in close proximity to the vessel propellers. In order to lift the riser section, it was necessary to utilize one of the vessel's two cranes to lift the riser to the deck of the vessel. The gender felt a tug on the diver’s umbilical followed suddenly, without warning, by the umbilical being jerked from the tender's hand; witnesses testified that soon thereafter they heard the engine "bog" and "thump" under the vessel as the prop apparently struck the diver's helmet.  The dive supervisor, having lost communications with the diver, entered the water and found his lifeless body entangled in the vessel props. Reported by Delise and Hall
  62. 2005 3 30 Not Recorded Kiribati Aged 29 “A diver died in Suva last night after he was airlifted from Kiribati with a serious decompression illness. He worked for a diving business owned by a former Kiribati diplomat on the island of Tabiteuea Meang.� No details
  63. 2002 9 30 Rig 'Arabdrill 19' Saudi Arabia Jack Up, leg punch through, blowout, caught fire, destroyed rig and a production platform in theKhafji field, 3 fatalities.
  64. 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.
  65. 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
  66. 2000 11 30 Cote Martine Canada Hydro-Quebec 6 S/S Air Aged 28. Paraphrased from the press report:- A team of engineers, commercial divers and their support staff were conducting a routine underwater video inspection of the power-house dam, generating station Hull 2. Martine Côté went under the surface at 12:30 p.m. and within less than half an hour, radioed that she was in trouble. According to the public relations officer for Hydro-Québec, Côté had encountered what is known as "suction." Suction occurs when there is a hole or fissure in the dam wall on the upstream side, and it means death for divers. "We had no idea. The basin had been seen dry, and there was no hole at that time. At 20 feet of water, the visibility isn't so great, unless there was a vortex you can't see it." It is also not clear how she died--whether from hypothermia, suffocation or the tremendous pressure on her body which could have caused a cardiac arrest. Officials at Hydro-Québec say only that she was declared dead at the hospital after resuscitation attempts had failed. The suction pulling on Côté's body was approximately 3,000 pounds per square feet in 20 feet of water. It was so strong that it ripped off her suit. There was no crane on the site, so the 14 workers on the surface were trying to pull her up manually. She was also not wearing a crotch harness. During the pulling from above, her body harness fell apart and her umbilical--a cord that provides air--was severed. They pulled unsuccessfully with nylon cables, finally getting her out at about 2 pm. "This woman was special, she was Hydro's [and Quebec's] only female commercial diver." reported in the Montreal Mirror
  67. 1990 5 30 Rig 'Keyes Marine 303' USA Jack Up, Blow out
  68. 1989 11 30 Not Recorded USA US Armry Corps A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers diver installing a boom to catch ice in the St. Marys River died when he lost his safety line
  69. 1989 1 30 Dykstra Andrew Canada St. Lawrence Seaway Authority 10 Aged 47, Lock 1 on the Welland Canal.. Diver was checking a valve on the lock but became trapped against logs, Steven Murphy, the stand-by diver went in the assist and also became trapped. Both were eventually brought to the surface, Steven Murphy pronounced dead on site, Andrew Dykstra died later in hospital. No other details. Reported in the Toronto Star.
  70. 1989 1 30 Murphy Steven Canada St. Lawrence Seaway Authority 10 Aged 29, Lock 1 on the Welland Canal.. Another diver, Andrew Dykstra was checking a valve on the lock but became trapped against logs, Steven Murphy, the stand-by diver went in the assist and also became trapped. Both were eventually brought to the surface, Steven Murphy pronounced dead on site, Andrew Dykstra died later in hospital. No other details. Reported in the Toronto Star.
  71. 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
  72. 1986 7 30 Vienneau Alain Canada Repechage et Recherche Sous Marine Marcoux Inc Aged 23, working at the entrance of the Lachine canal on a Parks Canada project to clean up the waterway. Police said he got caught in the circular opening in the locks that allows water from the Lac St. Louis to spill into the canal. He was removing debris in a strong current when the accident occurred. Reported in the Ottawa Citizen. However, the Montreal Gazette went on to say (paraphrased) Clean-up work on the Lachine Canal continued yesterday, one day after a diver died clearing debris from a water intake in a lock at the canal's western end. “He may have been knocked unconscious when currents banged his head against underwater debris�, his boss said yesterday, “we would have stopped working for a week or so after the accident, but since we already had police and a crane arranged for today, we went ahead� The team had been trying to block a 15 centimetre opening in the lock with metal plates. Vienneau, who had been working for Marcoux for 6 months was going to block it with a piece of wood. “He went down, and after a few minutes he stopped giving us any signals� said Marcoux. “And he didn't give a distress signal either� He said he pulled the lifeless diver from the water about 30 seconds after his last signal. A witness who works at a nearby gas station, said he what all the activity was and saw five men pulling on a rope tied to something in the water. “I didn't know what it was, they brought it out and I saw it was a man in full diving gear with his mask off. He was completely blue�. Emergency services spent half an hour trying to revive him on site. A Parks Canada official said that he did not have any details about the accident but “had no reason to suppose that the work will be delayed� because of the death. They began lowering the water in the canal two day before the accident (which explains the differential pressure) and “planned for environmental experts to examine the toxic sediments that cover the bottom of the 13.4 kilometre long waterway once it was drained.�
  73. 1983 10 30 Bergersen Bjorn Giaever Norway Comex Houlder 0 Saturation Norwegian, aged 29. Drill rig "Byford Dolphin", Frigg field, explosive decompression of sat system when TUP clamp failed. No interlock, 5 fatalities
  74. 1983 10 30 Not Recorded Malaysia Pearl diver Topsides Japanese pear diver working a vessel 30 km off Semporna, Sabah. The vessel was attacked by pirates, he was shot dead, two other divers were injured. Straits Times
  75. 1974 3 30 Norris William UK 61 British, pipe-lay barge? Medically unfit to dive (no medical), died in DDC following a dive, reported as decompression illness
  76. 1970 12 30 Strano John Australia Tweed Heads Porpoise Pool “Diver better� SYDNEY. Thursday. “Mr John Strano, 30, of Palm Beach, Queensland, a diver from the Tweed Heads porpoise pool, was recovering today from an injury he received when he was attacked by a 300 lb groper (Newpaper typo, I think….?) in the pool yesterday at feeding time�. The Canberra Times
  77. 1965 3 30 Hunt Roy USA Military SCUBA “A SCUBA diver disappeared Sunday while trying to help police recover a car from an abandoned lead and zinc mine. Roy Hunt, aged 23, was presumed drowned. Police believe the car was the one that killed a 13 year old boy in front of his house in Webb city in a hit and run accident last November 18. Divers found the car on a ledge under about 70 feet of water� Reported in the Tuscaloosa News. Not a professional diver, but clearly a diver at work, TC
  78. 1964 6 30 Rig 'C. P. Baker' USA Catarmaran Drillship built I 1962 from two world war II (1945) US Navy hulls, drilling block 273 in the Eugene Island area, hit shallow gas, blowout, 22 fatalities
  79. 1959 11 30 Not Recorded USA Comment is the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in an article referring to a state weekend death toll of 20, “Florida traffic accidents killed 13, a professional diver drowned and two men were fatally shot in hunting accidents�. No other details or reports.
  80. 1955 7 30 Byrnes Michael USA SCUBA Aged 15, SCUBA training in a YMCA swimming pool in San Bernardino drowned when his arm got sucked into an outlet pipe. “The boy's parents watched while three doctors and fire department resuscitator crew worked over the body for an hour after he was pulled from the water�. Reported in the Spokane Daily Chronicle.
  81. 1949 4 30 Burnett George E USA 9 Aged 20, professional kelp fisherman with two years working experience, diving off San Pedro Pier, body recovered from under a rock ledge, drowned, no other details. Los Angeles Times
  82. 1932 9 30 Stevens William Ramsey Hong Kong Hong Kong Government 6 S/S Air Australian diver employed by the Government on the Hong Kong Harbour Pipe. At the inquest, Senior commissioned Gunner George Hamilton RN, the expert witness, gave a demonstration of the working of the diving suit and helmet stating that the exhaust valve could be regulated by the diver to control the pressure of air in the suit. He also examined the topsides pump and found it efficient and 'needing about 25 turns a minute to keep a proper supply of air for working under any conditions'. The diver had only been in the water about three minutes when he ditched his helmet (including the two 40 pound lead weights). It was supposed at the inquest that there had been a mix up in the signals and when he asked for more air, he was actually given less and in desperation tried to ditch his helmet and reach the surface. The expert witness decsribed the diver's last act as "a very desperate act which I think, as an experienced diver, I would never dream of doing. It would drown him and fill up the suit with water. He absolutely committed suicide by taking his helmet off". Straits Times.
  83. 1931 3 30 Woodcock Percy Ingram UK Liverpool Salvage Company S/S Air "Diver's death at Salcombe. Mr Percy Ingram Woodcock, one of the divers working on behalf of the Liverpool Salvage Co. on the SS ….". No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Western Morning News/The British Newspaper Archive
  84. 1930 1 30 Trans Peter Canada 6 S/S Air 30 year old Danish immigrant, trapped by hoses/differential pressure against a coffer dam at the Ontario Paper Company project at Pointe aus Outardes, recovered after 71 hours, but had died (hypothermia). Working to build new life in Canada for his wife and children still in Denmark. Rescue divers Quesnel Morency and Lewis Begin were flown 200 miles north from Montreal into the remote location on the river Outardes, Quebec, to effect a rescue attempt. The Evening Independent.
  85. 1925 10 30 Not Recorded Persian Gulf "Pearl divers perish in cyclone. Reports of the recent cyclone in the Persian Gulf show that 32 pearl divers were…." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Angus Evening Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive
  86. 1924 9 30 MacKenzie Charles Wiliam Hong Kong Topsides Chief diver of Taikoo Docks, appeared at the Central Magistracy having been remanded the previous Saturday. "Defendant was charged with driving his motor-cycle in a dangerous manner; with being under the influence of drink; and with not stopping his machine after the occurrence of an accident in which two members of the police force were knocked down and injured. The judge, in fining the defendent $100 on each of the first and third charges, the second charge being withdrawn, said that the defendant was fortunate that the Captain Superintendent of Police had not asked for imprisonment. The Chinese constable was awarded $10 compensation" Straits Times
  87. 1899 10 30 Massan Australia 29 S/S Air Paraphrased from an article in the Northern Territory Gazette and Times:- “On Tuesday afternoon the (Sailing) lugger 'Electra' came into port in tow of the launch 'Victoria'. Soon after it was known in town that the diver engaged on board, a Japanese better known as Massan amongst his countrymen, had been drowned. At the inquest, which was held at the Court House, Palmerston, on Tuesday afternoon, it was stated that the 'Electra' was working about seven miles west of the Vernon at about 8 o'clock in the morning when the mishap occurred. A little before eight Massan went down and commenced looking for shell. He had been down about a quarter of an hour when the tender signalled him, but received no answer. This aroused his alarm, and he at once had the diver' drawn up. Massan came up feet foremost, and it was then seen that he had lost his helmet. When drawn up on deck and the dress taken off it was found that he was quite dead. Everything was done that was possible under the circumstances, but all without avail, and Capt. Mugg decided to up anchor and come into Port Darwin. As the wind was not by any means a fair one Mr. C. Hamarau, owner of the launch Victoria, kindly volunteered, to tow the lugger into port. Captain Mugg informs us that the diver was working on a very uneven bottom, the water varying in depth from ten to sixteen fathoms, and it is supposed that in going into a deep hole from the 10 fathom level he slipped and fell, and going down head foremost must have struck the helmet against a rock, knocking it off. The jury found that the deceased came to his death by drowning, and that no blame war attached to any one�
  88. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 1 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air Aged 53, experienced diver, initially reported as 'Met his death whilst at wotk'. Hornby dock, Liverpool, working on the vessel 'Gulf of Taranto'. He was placing a sealing pad over a valve inlet diffuser on a vessel hull, differential pressure incident (arm pulled into hull when the valve was removed because the diffuser was mounted on the valve not the hull). They managed to pull him free but he was unconscious when recovered to deck, taken to Bootle hospital, but failed to respond to treatment. Coroner’s verdict:- Suffocated. Reported in the Liverpool Mercury. See following two entries below for more detail.<br />http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/deathsandinquests1896.html
  89. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 2 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air William Storey, the incident:- Liverpool diver William STOREY, of 8 Toxteth St, a man of middle age and great experience, was engaged in the pursuance of his risky occupation when he met with his death under strange and peculiar circumstances. STOREY was working with two other men at the steamship ‘Gulf of Taranto’ lying in the Hornby Dock. The valve in the hull of the vessel required repair, and to enable this work to be carried out it was necessary that a "pad" should be fixed on the hull, so that the valve might be removed for repair without risking the flooding of the ship. This is the work that STOREY had to accomplish. A platform was lowered alongside the vessel, and STOREY, properly equipped in his diving-suit, went below. He signalled to the man in charge of the life-line to lower the stage. The next signal called for the "pad" A few minutes after the "pad" was lowered, yopsides received the signal "All right" which meant that the valve could be removed any moment. On board the vessel was the superintendent engineer of the Gulf Line of steamers, and as soon as the word was received from the divers the valve was unscrewed he called attention to the fact that the "pad" was leaky. Water was spurting in then the next moment a portion of the pad and the diver's arm were forced through the aperture. About this moment STOREY signalled to be drawn up, but the pressure of the water increased tremendously by the suction through the now open valve, jammed him tight against the vessel, and hauling him to the surface proved a matter of great difficulty. Mr M'KAY forced the diver's arm out through the aperture again, but the combined efforts of three men, instead of the customary one were necessary before the poor fellow was got out of the water. Storey was then unconscious and apparently dead, the sleeve of his diving-dress considerably torn, having been damaged by the violence with which his arm had been forced through the valve hole. When his headgear was removed it was found that he had been bleeding badly from the ears. The Bootle Fire Brigade horse ambulance was promptly summoned and STOREY was taken to Bootle Hospital. Upon arrival he was examined by the house-surgeon, who pronounced life extinct. Appearances hardly point to drowning and it seems more probable the unfortunate diver was either suffocated when his dress was torn open at the sleeve, or that the life was crushed out of him against the side of the vessel when the valve was removed without the "pad" apparently being properly secured
  90. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 3 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air er was fast in some way, he called the man tending the air pipe even with his help it was impossible to raise the diver. He asked for assistance from a flatman with the combined efforts of the three of them they managed to raise the diver. Witness rapidly took off the diver's mouthpiece and saw STOREY was apparently dead. The deceased was at about 12ft under the water and from the time the signal came to pulling him up only minutes had elapsed. The Coroner elicited the information that the ship's hull was covered with a perforated metal rose, after the style of a rose on a watering can. Witness said, this rose was normally affixed to the skin of the vessel but in the present case it was affixed to the valve, this was important and the diver ought to have been told of it. Had witness known of it he would have used a wooden plug to stop up the hole instead of a pad to cover it. The hole was six inches in diameter. The post mortem results were that the skin of the deceased was a dusky colour. Blood had oozed from the right ear and there was a large bruise on the upper part of the left forearm and elbow. There were no broken bones or injuries that might have caused death. The vessels of the brain were congested but the brain tissue healthy. The lungs were very much congested and there was a good deal of mucus in the bronchial tubes. The small air vessels of the lungs were ruptured by the efforts to inspire. The heart was flabby and rather fatty, the valves being more or less closed, especially the mitrial and aortic. The blood throughout the body was a dark colour, a marked indication of suffocation. The cause of death was suffocation. The Coroner then addressed the jury, summing up the evidence and pointing out it was for them to decide whether any one was criminally liable for the death of the diver, they could express an opinion as to what led up to the suffocation which according to the medical evidence was the direct cause of death, or they could leave that point alone. After deliberation in private the jury found that death was due to suffocation, but how that was brought about they were unable to say. The funeral was reported as:- The remains of William STOREY, Diver, were interred yesterday morning in Toxteth Park Cemetery in the presence of a large number of friends. The deceased who was an experienced diver unfortunately met his death last Wednesday while working on the steamship Gulf of Taranto in the Hornby Dock. The coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths and the brass shield bore the inscription, "William STOREY, died September 30. 1896, aged 53 years�
  91. 1896 3 30 Not Recorded Australia Almond Surface Swimmer On board a cutter owned by Mr. Almond, 11 o'clock at night: "Fearing they would be murdered, the diver gave a signal to the Japanese trader and they both jumped overboard. They swam near each other and when the dinghy approached, the men therein knocked the diver with a paddle so that he drowned. As the dinghy approached the trader he dived, and being an expert swimmer he eluded his pursuers and eventually swam to a small island near West Island after about 11 hours swimming". He lived on shellfish for four days until rescued by a Manilla cutter that took him to Thursday Island. "It is quite possible that he and the diver fancied that they were in trouble, but without any foundation for the belief, for it seems clear that the trader avoided the dighy from false fear. An inquiry is being held". Reported in the Argus, Melbourne.
  92. 1879 7 30 Jenkins James Walter USA S/S Air Recovering an anchor lost from the “Barbarossa� in a collision with the “Italy� some weeks earlier off New York Harbour, pier 1, North River. Assistant called attention to blisters in the air pipe, but “Jenkins only laughed and said the pipe would probably last as long as he would�. Assistants protested that the hose was unsafe “but the daring engineer would not hear of it and went to his death with apparent gaiety� He had reached seabed when the pipe burst on deck. Pulled up immediately. “Upon removing the helmet the man's face and head presented a horrible appearance, being swollen to fully twice their normal size and purplish black. The tongue, swollen, discoloured and protruding was nearly bitten in two, blood trickled from the nostrils and ears, the arms were extended and rigid while the spasmodically closed fingers had buried their nails deep in the horny skin of the palms of the hands. Gasped once and expired with a long gurgling sigh�. Unemployed for two years, desperate to support his family, basically, a quick dive for "cash in hand" of 10$. reported in the New York Times.
  93. 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.
  94. 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.
  95. 2014 4 30 Rupping Luke Kuwait Mammoet Joined SA Navy 2003, went to diving school in Simonstown in 2004, joined the Operational Diving Team (ODT), went back to the Diving School as an Assistant Facilitator in 2004, qualified as supervisor 2007. Left the Navy in 2008 and started commercial diving. Reported as killed in a broco/underwater cutting incident, possibly a salvage job. No other details.
  96. 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
  97. 2021 4 30 Not Recorded USA "OSHA Report . April 30, 2021 – E. Tri Lakes Crown Lake Dam, AR Summary - Employee was working on a drain pipe to see if it was clogged. The employee had placed a small metal tub plate over the opening of the drain pipe and he accidentally removed the tube. The debris that was clogged inside the drain was removed and became unclogged causing a whirlpool and pulled the employee into the drain approximately 60 feet down and employee's body was ejected approximately 120 feet away from the opening of the drain. The employee's body was severed in half causing a fatality. While this was not a diving fatality, the employee was a diver working in a wet suit. Similar hazards as other dams / plants with Delta P issue and not being aware of where the inlets / outlets piping of the dam were. RLH Construction – OSHA Inspection #1540325.015 – OPEN. i. Citations – 30OCT21 is the 6 month date ii. Problems - Improper manning / training? Lack of knowledge of system?"
  98. 2012 10 29 de Waal Paul A Curacao Miami Divers S/S Air Aged 27, Accident at the Mega Pier at Baden Powellwegin the Port of Willemstad (Capital of Curacao, Dutch Caribbean island) Dutch diver working with three others divers on repairs to the 92,000 tonne cruise liner 'Norwegian Star' (Damaged her bow in port in Bermuda in September when she broke mooring lines in strong winds and collided with the RCCL 'Explorer of the Seas'). Reported as 'gave signal to his colleagues and was found unconscious on the harbour bed'. CPR was unsuccessful. No other details. Reported by Scheepvaartnieuws.The following details have been paraphrased from OGP safety Alert 248. “Routine surface supplied diving operation to clean marine growth from a vessel hull using a hull cleaning device with rotating brushes (a brush cart that required a diver to guide and operate it). The brush cart contained diver operated tooling actuated by an air driven piston. Standard company practice was to use the suit inflation take off from the diving mask for this purpose. Prior to this dive the diving mask was changed to a model that did not have a suit inflation take off capability. A decision was made to connect the diver's emergency gas supply line (Bailout) directly to the brush cart tooling. This resulted in the diver having no personal emergency gas supply. During the dive the diver's umbilical was caught in the wheels of the brush cart and the diver experienced a reduction in breathing gas. The diver, having no emergency gas supply, removed his mask, immediately losing communication to the surface team and was observed in distress at the surface. The surface team was composed of a radio operator (a diver) and a tender for the diver (a non diver) and a diving supervisor - who was not on the site at this time. An attempt was made to pull the diver back using the diver's umbilical, this was ineffective. The radio operator, who was also the standby diver, jumped into the water without diving equipment and attempted to rescue the diver. The brush cart was negatively buoyant and the rescue diver was unable to prevent it sinking with the diver attached. The standby diver returned to the vessel and dressed into the standby diver's equipment (SCUBA) and recovered the body of the diver from the seabed. What Went Wrong? i) Risks with the work equipment were not identified and addressed, ii) Critical Safety equipment was misused to achieve the work task, iii) Personnel levels were inadequate, iv) No onsite supervision, v) Inadequate Emergency recovery equipment. Corrective Actions and Recommendations: i) Utilise the OGP RP 411, Diving Recommended Practice as the baseline standard for diving, ii) Verify contractors are in compliance, iii) Establish that adequate risk assessments have been carried out, iv) Ensure minimum personnel levels for diving are 5 (One supervisor who cannot leave the dive site, a diver, a diver's tender, a standby diver and standby diver's tender), all personnel should be diver qualified and competent, v) Verify emergency breathing supply equipment is of suitable volume and immediately available, vi) Confirm that any use of the divers breathing gas supply for tooling power is unacceptable, vii) Ensure the standby diver's equipment is the same as the divers, viii) Verify that while any diver is in the water, the standby diver is dressed and in immediate readiness to carry out a rescue, ix) Ensure emergency recovery equipment and procedures are adequate to achieve recovery, x) Verify emergency drills have been carried out to test the emergency recovery procedures with the diving team. Later reported as having qualified from diving school in September, one month earlier.
  99. 2010 11 29 McCarthy Peter Joseph Thailand 80 Rebreather British, aged 47, diving instructor, disappeared on an 80 metre deep dive into the mouth of a submerged volcano off the Thai island of Koh Tao with a party of eight other British and Italian divers at about noon, local time, on Monday. The other instructor on the dive told Thai media that Mr McCarthy did not come up after the nine man hour-long dive. Each of the divers had two hours of oxygen. The other divers used up their remaining oxygen in searching for their instructor, reports said. The instructor was described as a very experienced technical diver - expert in a specialised type of scuba diving that uses a mix of gases to allow divers dive go deeper and for longe (Technical diving). The original diving group consisted of the two instructors, four men and three women. Mr McCarthy had a diving licence issued in the Gulf of Thailand province of Chumpon. Daily Mail UK
  100. 2010 7 29 Dobrajc Ziga Italy 4 Rebreather Aged 31, Slovenian biologist working at the Piran Marine Biology centre, diving on a 'Trieste HBY' rebreather off Miramar, injured in the same incident that killed Samo Alajbegovich on the 25th July. He was recovered from the sea unconscious by rescuers 10 metres from the shore in less than 4 metres of water. On life support in hospital for 4 days, declared brain dead, life support switched off. Reported in Slowwwenia.enaa.com
  101. 2009 3 29 Not Recorded Vietnam SCUBA Professional oyster fisherman. Phu Cu District, central province of Binh Dinh. Fishermen on their boat spotted bubbles and movement in the water. Assuming he had spotted a large fish, the boat's senior fisherman packed a small can with dynamite and tossed it overboard. When he jumped into the water to harvest the fish, he found the body of a dead diver who had been diving for shellfish. They attempted to escape but were captured by coast guards who responded to the sound of the explosion. The fishermen were charged with killing the diver and destroying aquatic resources with the illegal use of explosives
  102. 2008 2 29 Heng Hii Teck Miri Not Reported 13 SCUBA Aged 42, professional ship repair divers working under the hull of the "Bunga Kelana 6' five miles off Bintulu, entered water, failed to surface, SAR diver located bodies two days later on ship's water inlet grill, but failed to recover divers due to currents.
  103. 2008 2 29 Jung Chew Kim Miri Not Reported 13 SCUBA Aged 37, professional ship repair divers working under the hull of the 'Bunga Kelana 6' five miles off Bintulu, entered water, failed to surface, SAR diver located bodies two days later on ship's water inlet grill, but failed to recover divers due to currents.
  104. 2007 12 29 Ernesto Silva Olguin Mexico Pemex Aged 35, Diving off the drilling rig 'Pride California'
  105. 2007 8 29 Rodriguez Joaquin Castelao Angel Spain Coral Diver 28 SCUBA Aged 74, known locally as 'the angel of coral' had spent over 20 years living in Alcudiq collecting coralharvesting coral ('Red Gold') from his boat 'Nemo' in the channel between Menorc and Mallorca, 17 miles north of the port of Alcudia, diving with his son, became ill during decompression stops. An SAR helicopter dropped a medic onboard who confirmed he had died. Had spent years criticising intensive fishing methoids (like beam trawling) which damage the seabed. Reported by Diario de Mallorca
  106. 2006 11 29 Not Recorded Fiji Aged 25 from Yanuca Island, lost his life while diving for bech-de-mer. The Divisional media liaison officer said the deceased was with other divers but he failed to surface after a dive. A search was undertaken by officers of the Navua Police station and villagers. The body was recovered on Thursday. No other details. Reported by Fiji Times on line
  107. 2006 8 29 McGrath Chandon Lee USA Bisso 67 S/S Mixed Gas East Area block 346, Rowan Drilling, Removal of the MODU "Rowan Halifax" (Sank on the lease during Hurricane Rita) Mixed gas surface diving from the DP II DSV "Global Explorer" run by International Subsea Inc., Houston. No real details, no audio record recovered by CG investigators, "audio malfunctioned"
  108. 2005 9 29 Butel Russel August Australia SCUBA Paraphrased from press reports:- “The man killed by a crocodile in the Northern Territory was the second fatal attack in less than a week. Russell August Butel, 55, of Darwin, was taken by a five-metre saltwater crocodile about 11.30am yesterday, only five days after British snorkeller Russell Harris, 37, was also killed by a crocodile in the NT. Mr Butel and a companion were diving near Washon Head on the Cobourg Peninsula, about 150km north-east of Darwin, when the attack happened. Mr Butel, professionally dived frequently in his role as an aquarium fish diver.� He was collecting clown fish. Sky News online
  109. 2005 8 29 Hurricane Katrina USA The final toll for Katrina was 47 platforms destroyed with 20 suffering extensive damage, 6 rigs broken from moorings and set adrift, 3 platform rigs destroyed and 1 jack-up capsized (Rowan New Orleans), with 2 jackups, 
5 semi-subs and 2 platform rigs suffering extensive damage. Minerals Management Service
  110. 2005 8 29 Rig 'PSS Chenul' USA The PSS Chemul semi-sub was under construction for PEMEX in the Bender Shipbuilding yard near Mobile, Alabama. It broke loose from its moorings during the hurricane was pushed upstream by the storm surge, where it eventually became wedged under the Cochrane Bridge. The rig remained pinned under the bridge for several hours, causing the closure of the bridge. After inspection, the innermost lanes of the bridge were re-opened, with the completion of repairs planned for the end of 2005. Oil Rig Disasters
  111. 2000 11 29 Not Recorded Fiji 130 SCUBA Two Fijian divers, 'one a master diver, the other less experienced' were hired to recover an anchor lost in 130 metres off Gau island. When they failed to surface, another diver attempted to rescue them, began to lose consciousness and inflated his ABLJ, he was admitted to the CWM hospital in Suva, given therapeutic decompression in a chamber and reported as having survived. No other details. Reported in the Fiji Times Online. (NB As far as I can ascertain, the facts are correct – two divers were hired, agreed to, and then attempted to, recover an anchor in 130 metres on air in SCUBA, TC)
  112. 1999 8 29 Shepcot Jay USA Oceaneering 296 ADS GB 161, Semi-submersible Diamond Ocean Ambassador with an air gap of approximately 100 feet. ADS (Wasp) was being recovered, a piece of lifting tackle gave away, ADS dropped to the end of a safety cable. The shock load swung the ADS up beneath the semi-sub where it hit and broke one arm off the suit before the safety cable was severed by the edge of the deck. The ADS fell into the sea and because of the missing arm flooded and sank to the pontoon. It is believed that the diver died of a broken neck which occurred at the same time the arm was broken off. Once submerged, the suit flooded. Two standby dives were made before the diver was located and brought to the surface. "This fatality is attributable to rigging failure" Offshore Diver. (USCG found that the shackle pin used in attaching the WASP to the crane was of inferior quality and not rated for lifting the weight of a WASP. NAOCD/cDiver)
  113. 1998 7 29 Not Recorded Turkey Chamber Turkish doctor and 2 SCUBA divers killed in blast in decompression chamber  An explosion in a decompression chamber released a cloud of noxious fumes, killing a doctor and two scuba divers at a hospital, the Anatolia news agency said. The cause of the explosion Tuesday was not immediately known and officials at Capa hospital refused to comment. Associated Press
  114. 1992 9 29 Rig 'Blake IV' Rig Disaster Jack Up, Blow out, caught fire
  115. 1983 4 29 Underhill Ernest USA Police SCUBA Aged 32, Sheriff's Deputy, off duty, Little Muskegon dam, helping village employees replace metal plates/grills over openings in the dam wall but got sucked head first into a 4' wide. 8� high opening. Rescuers tried for 5 hours to pull him out, while his wife watched, eventually breaking his surface line, His legs and feet were visible, but the water pressure kept him trapped. 'He was just helping out'.
  116. 1982 10 29 Phillips Derek UK Wharton Williams Taylor 15 S/S Air British, aged 24. ex RN ship's diver working off the DSV "Shearwater Aquamarine". Shallow DP diving, diver was undertaking a seabed survey, DP failure (active drive off), diver was dragged off the job and then apparently ditched his helmet (KB17), body lost, recovered 9 months later� As reported by a fellow diver “He was my room mate on the Polar Queen. The story goes he was diving from a basket when the Aquamarine ran off DP. Derek thought, or so we think he thought, that his umbilical was in the prop. He removed all his equipment and drowned. In the months before the fatality we had a near miss on the Polar Queen when another diver’s umbilical was caught in the prop. This diver removed his gear and was saved. However he was in a basket with spare air and had help. The feeling is that Derek was trying the same technique however he was on the bottom, on his own, with a hot water suit and not wearing fins. The result was inevitable�
  117. 1980 10 29 O'Sullivan Dermott Norway Oceaneering Diving from the "Sedco Phillips SS", Ekofisk, back injury
  118. 1975 8 29 Gates Robert USA Clarmac Marine Construction 4 SCUBA Aged 19, Halifax River at Ormand Beach, Emergency repairs to a 10� water main (Anchor damage) 200 yards to the North side of Granada Bridge, diving with a colleague doing final flange bolting of a new line, the other diver surfaced but moments later, at around 18:00 his bubbles ceased, divers went back in but were unable to locate him. About 20:00 divers on the barge suggested the use of grapples to search from a boat and found the body but it dropped back into the water, finally recovered a short time later, declared dead on site. Daytona Beach Morning Gazzette.
  119. 1973 10 29 Not Recorded USA Military Submarine "Navy craft hits minisub, kills sailor. A frogman was killed and a second injured Tuesday when their submerged…returning to base after training off Silver Strand (San Diego) when the accident occurred". Los Angeles Times Pay per view
  120. 1970 1 29 Othman Cpl bin Shafie Singapore Marine diver SCUBA Marine corporal, aged 34, one of a three man team aiding investigators into a double murder (mutilated bodies dumped in a car into the pool) in an 80' deep 4 acre pool on Bidor-Tiluk Anson Road. Colleagues noticed that his bubbles had stopped and went in to recover him but he was already dead. Wife and three young children. Straits Times
  121. 1954 7 29 Perkins RN PO John Singapore 5 Aged 35. Reported as drowned at the Seletar Naval Base (HMS Cossack?), Singapore, during diving exercises the day after seaman Charles Larkin died in a shark attack during a contraband search in Singapore harbour. The exercise was to remove mines from ship's hulls, his lifeline got entangled in the propeller shaft. Stand-by diver found him with his mask off, not breathing when recovered to deck, did not respond to treatment. Coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure. Straits Times
  122. 1927 7 29 Hashimoto Hijiro or Bijiro Australia 33 S/S Air "Diver Drowned. Through an air pipe bursting 80 feet from the pump, a 46 year old Japanese diver with 26 years of experience was drowned at Broome, W. A. He was working at 18 fathoms and it was ten minutes before he could be brought to the surface". Reported in the Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania.
  123. 1905 8 29 Kitson? (John?) Frederick UK S/S Air "Diver dies underwater. While underwater Hartlepool on Tuesday night a diver named Frederick Kitpsn" (Assumed to be a scanning error, Kitson? TC)." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  124. 1898 3 29 Richmond? Edwin Arthur UK S/S Air "Fatality to Dock Board Diver. Mr. Samson, City Coroner held inquest today into the death of Edwin Arthur Ruthrrtmd (Assumed to be scanning error, actually Richmond" TC), aged 39, diver..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Liverpool Echo/The British Newspaper Archive
  125. 1895 11 29 Not Recorded UK "The wreck of the Dorian, diver was drowned whilst assisting the work of removing the cargo.." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Shields Daily Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  126. 1886 9 29 Boys Thomas UK Wear Commissioners S/S Air "Accident to divers. One man suffocated. At South docks Sunderland, this morning, three men were engaged in diving operations,…. " "Accident to a diver. An inquest on the body of Thomas Boys, who was drowned at Sunderland on Wednesdsay in diving operations was held..." "..diving bell accient, sates that divers were wrking for the Wear Commissioners in damming the old entrance to the South Dock...." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Manchester Evening News/The British Newspaper Archive
  127. 1877 1 29 Robertson John UK Topsides Steam ship 'Alexandra', built in Stockton on Tees in 1863, en route from Cadiz to Dublin via Liverpool, with 420 tons of wine. Reached Liverpool and discharged 100 tons of wine, sailed for Dublin on the 3rd of January. 08:00 drive shaft broke, continued under sail, caught in a storm which left him with only fore and aft foresails, was being pushe onshore, dropped port anchor which immediately parted, starboard anchor jammed, ran aground in Clogher Bay. Cargo was discgarged by the 12th January, on the same day, the salvage vessel 'Seamen' arrived from Adrossan with three steam pumps and repair crew, including the diver and tender, and temporary repairs made including installing the three pumps on frames in the holds.before two tugs - "Kingfisher" and "Challenger' out of Liverpool - arrived to tow her to Belfast for overhaul with the salvage steamer "Seamew" attached to her stern by a tow rope to steady her during the tow and the three steam pumps running to keep her afloat. Floated off and tow started 10:00 on the 29th JanuaryAlso onboard was a repair crew including diver John Robertson and his attendant from Greenock. Caught in further bad weather from 18:00 hours, the pumps could not keep up, headed for sheltered water and situation improved, continued the tow but vessel began listing to starboard, then settled to the stern and then sank in under 5 minutes. It is thought that 7 persons were lost in the sinking - a shipright, a carpenter, 4 labourers from Clogher Bay and the diver, Anderson. Salvage Captains criticised for taking the vessels into heavy weather away from sheltered water. Plimsol.org/Old Merseytimes.co.uk
  128. 1872 3 29 Seaman George USA S/S Air 40 years old, living on Staten Island, working off the wrecking schooner 'Thomas Kivlin' at work at the foot of 65th Street, North River, was suffocated by the bursting of the air pipe. Seaman had been underwater for some time, and, as soon as it was discovered that the pipe used for conducting air to the diver had burst, he was hauled up, but when he reached the surface and was relieved of his diving suit, all efforts made to resuscitate him proved futile. The remains were removed to the morgue. New York Times.
  129. 1866 10 29 Jevons Ellis UK "Serious Accident to Diver. Yesterday morning, Ellis Jevons, aged 42, residing croftplace, one of the …" No other details (Pay for access archive). Reported in the Liverpool Daily Post/The British Newspaper Archive
  130. 2013 7 29 Casas-Cordero Menéndez Miguel Chile Chilean Navy Military One of three Chilean Special Forces divers killed during underwater explosive demolition exercises. The Commander in Chief of the First Naval Zone regrets to inform the public that at 12:45 pm today, Monday 29th July , while an underwater demolition with explosives practice was done at Caleta Hornillos, in Laguna Verde, Valparaiso, there was an accident resulting in death. Should be noted that this exercise is one of the planned activities in the Annual Training Plan. A result of this unfortunate situation were deceased 2nd Lt. Miguel Casas-Cordero Menéndez and 1st. Sgt. Marcos Llancavil Arce, both from the Special Forces Command of the Armada Chilena. Additionally is currently missing Cpl. José Luis Valenzuela Valderrama. Cpl. José Luis Valenzuela Valderrama was later found also deceased.<br />Source: Emol.com
  131. 2013 7 29 Llancavil Arce Marcos Chile Chilean Navy Military One of three Chilean Special Forces divers killed during underwater explosive demolition exercises. The Commander in Chief of the First Naval Zone regrets to inform the public that at 12:45 pm today, Monday 29th July , while an underwater demolition with explosives practice was done at Caleta Hornillos, in Laguna Verde, Valparaiso, there was an accident resulting in death. Should be noted that this exercise is one of the planned activities in the Annual Training Plan. A result of this unfortunate situation were deceased 2nd Lt. Miguel Casas-Cordero Menéndez and 1st. Sgt. Marcos Llancavil Arce, both from the Special Forces Command of the Armada Chilena. Additionally is currently missing Cpl. José Luis Valenzuela Valderrama. Cpl. José Luis Valenzuela Valderrama was later found also deceased.<br />Source: Emol.com
  132. 2013 7 29 Valenzuela Valderrama José Luis Chile Chilean Navy Military One of three Chilean Special Forces divers killed during underwater explosive demolition exercises. The Commander in Chief of the First Naval Zone regrets to inform the public that at 12:45 pm today, Monday 29th July , while an underwater demolition with explosives practice was done at Caleta Hornillos, in Laguna Verde, Valparaiso, there was an accident resulting in death. Should be noted that this exercise is one of the planned activities in the Annual Training Plan. A result of this unfortunate situation were deceased 2nd Lt. Miguel Casas-Cordero Menéndez and 1st. Sgt. Marcos Llancavil Arce, both from the Special Forces Command of the Armada Chilena. Additionally is currently missing Cpl. José Luis Valenzuela Valderrama. Cpl. José Luis Valenzuela Valderrama was later found also deceased.<br />Source: Emol.com
  133. 2016 11 29 Araúz Roderick Panama Interpa Holding Corporation, S.A. SCUBA Aged 35, cleaning an inlet pipe to the East Panama hydroelectric power plant on the Chiriqui River in Gualaca. Double Fatality with Jose Garcia. No real details. Reported by La Estrella de Panama. Additional information reported on the Association website: https://goo.gl/fZmALu
  134. 2016 11 29 Garcia Jose Panama Interpa Holding Corporation, S.A. SCUBA Aged 43, cleaning an inlet pipe to the Esti Panama hydroelectric power plant on the Chiriqui River in Gualaca. Double Fatality with Roderik Arauz. No real details. Reported by La Estrella de Panama. Additional information reported on the Association website: https://goo.gl/fZmALu
  135. 2019 7 29 Linston Terrence Olmsted Lock, Kentucky USA Global Diving and Salvage PULASKI COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) - A diver died while working on the Olmsted Lock and Dam project on Saturday, June 29. According to spokesperson with Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC, a commercial diver with Global Diving and Salvage died while working on the Olmsted Lock and Dam project. Terrence Linston reportedly had a incident while he was under water and did not survive. He had been employed with Globan since 2017 and had been working on the Olmsted project for two years. Global is contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the following statement on Wednesday, July 3: “Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the family members during this difficult time. We are closely coordinating with all parties as the cause of the incident is still under investigation.” - Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District According to the Moran Environmental Recovery spokesperson, they are cooperating with authorities and the investigation is ongoing. In May 2019, a massive crane specifically built to assemble, move and lift sections of the dam was demolished. In August 2018, a ribbon cutting was held for the Olmsted Lock and Dam project. The project, which replaced 1920’s-era infrastructure, hoped to make an easier navigation of commerce on the Ohio River. The Olmsted Lock and Dam is one of the busiest stretches of Illinois’ inland water system for commercial navigation. https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/07/03/diver-dies-while-working-olmsted-lock-dam-project/
  136. 2013 2 28 Kulal Bhaskar India Policeman 15 SCUBA Aged 34 or 35, from Kundapur, described as a 'commando', working with the Coastal Security Police in Malpe (Udupi District), one of 10 attendees at a 5 day SCUBA course (Anti-terrorism SCUBA diving taining event) at a training camp near Nethrani Island, Murdeshwar, Bhatkal. Details unclear but appears that it was run by a PADI company, Planet SCUBA India, with the lead trainer 'Andy' (Andrew Stonebridge, resort manager and SCUBA instructor in Murdeshwar, from Nottingham, UK) who allegedly insisted that the policeman continue his training even though he was 'ill'. Went into the water mid afternoon on the last day of the course, found underwater, unconscious, had lost his mouthpiece, 'brought to the surface by rescuers still breathing but died shortly later'. A fellow trainee said that the training was extremely arduous and that "Andy' told them they should learn SCUBA diving within 5 days and 'it's difficult for those who don't know swimming' insisting that the sea was rough, Kulal was ill and the trainer's negligence and apathy led to the fatality. As a result of complaints from the policemen on the course and Kula's brother-in-law Taghu Kulal, the trainer was arrested by Kawar police (It was also reported that the deceased diver was from a very poor family, wife a wife and two sons lived in police quarters who would now be supported by the Police department, infirm parents also supported by sole income from the policeman). Reported by Mangolorean.com/Bellevision Media etc
  137. 2013 1 28 South Pars, Phase 13 Iran SADRA 80 40 million USD platform wieghing 1,850 tons being installed in the South Pars field (Phase 13) sank on site in 80 metres water depth leaving people in the water (video clip), no reported casualties. Reuters
  138. 2012 2 28 Ellebode Jean-Michel France Le Schaphandre 25 44 years old, French, Diving at around 25 metres, working off a barge on the Antioch sluice (Between Ile de Re and Ile d'Oleron), ill in the water, recovered unconscious, helicopter to hospital in La Rochelle, declared dead. Sudouest.fr
  139. 2011 6 28 Not Recorded UK Mylor Marine Maintenance SCUBA Falmouth contractor fined £10,000 with costs of £2,000 after admitting breaching r.6(2)(a), 6(3)(a), 6(3)(b) and 6(3)(d) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. The prosecution arose from a spot inspection by HSE at underwater maintenance work on moorings in the St Mawes area of the Falmouth estuary during which an inspector observed breaches of the regulations. ‘The dive was being carried out without essential equipment, using only one cylinder of breathing gas, when a secondary supply is mandatory, and the diver only had a mouthpiece demand valve when a full face mask was required. There was no standby diver, a lifeline or a line for voice communications with the diver who was only qualified to carry out recreational dives, not commercial ones. The diver did not possess a valid certificate to prove his medical fitness to dive. He was diving without the benefit of a plan for the work being carried out, which should have included a risk assessment and a project plan.’ Reported in Safety News UK
  140. 2011 3 28 Mayo Hector Luelmo Spain Military 35 SCUBA Aged 24, Soldier with the V Batallon de Intervention en Emergencias based in El Ferral de Bernesga, Leon. Diving exercise, lost contact with his 4 man group. His three companions were treated for decompression illness. Body recovered the next day. No details. Reported in GPS Buzeo
  141. 2009 8 28 Gillies Alasdair UK Eilean Glas Salmon Ltd 15 SCUBA ver to go down with him, but he was on leave the day of the accident, and there was no-one else equipped to go to the diver’s assistance. The contractor admitted that while operating as diving contractors in the loch to clean out dead fish from cage nets, carry out maintenance work, and install a predator net, it failed to issue diving rules or lay down emergency procedures. It also admitted failing to appoint a diving supervisor; failure to provide a logbook; and failing to ensure that the divers employed had their personal logbooks signed daily by a supervisor, failing to test and examine Scuba air cylinders to ensure they were safe for diving; to control access to diving equipment in a store; and to prepare a written health and safety policy for employees. Contractor fined ₤1,000.
  142. 2009 7 28 Ricciarelli Louis USA 6 S/S Air American, aged 56, diving off Quonset point from the 25'.commercial fishing vessel 'Chelsea Ann' for Qhahogs (clams). Diving solo, no crew. Alerted as 'not returned' by his wife, boat located with diving hose over the side. Divers recovered him from the seabed, deceased. “Equipment failure/lost gas� but no details. Reported in the Providence Journal
  143. 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.
  144. 2007 7 28 Carey Lavar Bahamas Paradise Cove Resort SCUBA Paraphrased from a reported in the Nassau Guardian. “Grand Bahama police on Saturday reported another drowning. Initial reports by police indicate that 22-year-old Lavar Carey of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, an employee at a local watersports company, apparently drowned while at work at that facility in West Grand Bahama late Saturday afternoon. According to police shortly before six o'clock Saturday evening, the duty officer at the Police Dispatch Centre in Freeport received a call from a staff member at Paradise Cove Resort in Deadman's Reef, who reported that one of their divers was discovered by the resort's proprietor floating underwater, an apparent drowning victim. As a result, EMR Division and Central Detective Unit officers along with EMS personnel were dispatched to that location. Upon arrival there, the resort's owner, Barry Smith, pointed out Carey's body lying on the beach. He noted that Carey, who had been employed as a diver for the past year, had gone out as usual in a boat around 5:00 p.m., to collect the dive marker flags and floats and bring them ashore to secure them. After he failed to return within 20 minutes, fellow staff members became concerned and, along with Smith, they got into a boat and went looking for him. Smith stated that they found the boat that Carey had gone out in, but did not see him anywhere. After searching the area offshore from the beach for about 30 minutes, Carey was found floating motionless underwater. He was rushed ashore and rendered CPR and other resuscitative measures, but failed to respond. EMS personnel rushed him to the trauma section at the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:35 p.m. by the doctor on duty.� Diver at work, but not a diving incident, TC
  145. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Adriatic VII' USA Global Santa Fe Evacuated before Rita hit, the Adriatic VII was broken from its legs and set adrift. It was found beached approximately 118 NM from its pre-storm location, in shallow waters off the Louisiana coast. It suffered severe damage, including the loss of its derrick, rig floor package and helideck. After the hurricane, the derrick and other rig debris were not salvaged and were marked by the USCG as an underwater obstruction. The hull of the rig was towed back to the Port Arthur shipyard in Texas for inspection. By September 2006, GSF had decided to dispose of the damaged rig and the Adriatic VII was sold to a third party for approximately $30 million. The legs of the rig were subsequently salvaged by Smit in June 2007. Oil Rig Disasters
  146. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Hercules 25' USA Jack Up, Derrick fell onto rig, Hurricane Rita damage
  147. 2005 9 28 Rig 'High Island III" USA Global Santa Fe Like the Adriatic VII, the High Island was evacuated before Rita and was also broken off its legs before being set adrift. It sustained major damage, including the loss of its derrick was found run aground in a self-created trench in shallow waters off the Louisiana coast. The High Island has gone on to share a similar fate as the Adriatic VII. Its derrick was not salvaged and is now an underwater obstruction. The legs of the rig were salvaged in October 2006 by Smit. The hull of the rig was towed back to Port Arthur shipyard, Texas and sat alongside Adriatic VII. By September 2006, GSF had decided to dispose of the High Island III and was evaluating whether to sell the remains or declare the rig a constructive total loss for insurance purposes. Oil Rig Disastersi
  148. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Fort Worth' USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  149. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Halifax USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  150. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Halifax' USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  151. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Louisiana USA Jack Up, Hurricane Rita damage.
  152. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Odessa' USA Jack Up, Beached, reported missing, presumed sunk, Hurricane Rita
  153. 2003 10 28 Anderson Michael R USA 11 S/S Air 33 year old, commercial fishing (sea cucumber harvesting), but though experienced SCUBA diver, inexperienced with surface supply, mask off, no fins, heavy weight belt, recovered to surface but no response, drowned. Reported to have gone without air for 5 to 10 minutes Alaska Digest
  154. 2003 6 28 Not Recorded USSR SCUBA Sakhalin district commercial sea cucumber harvesting (мор�кого ежа). One of the divers failed to surface . His body was found some time later.
  155. 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
  156. 2002 11 28 McAulay Lt Paul UK RN 3 Surface Swimmer British, aged 27, Breath holding exercise, (recovery of mask from bottom of lake) during training at Horsea island, dived at 10pm after eating, vomited, inhaled, choked, heart attack. No stand-by diver. MOD prosecuted, family awarded £750,000 damages
  157. 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
  158. 1999 12 28 Mahoney Michael C USA Bisso Marine American, Mississippi river barge salvage job, oxy arc explosion, stand-by diver not dressed in. Diver was killed in an underwater explosion while performing "hot work" on the sunken barge. Early court documents from a civil action brought by Bisso Marine against OSHA when the investigation was transferred from USCG to OSHA shows that Mr. Mahoney's "autopsy revealed high levels of cocaine and TCH.....that Mahoney likely smoked crack cocaine on the barge shortly before making the dive." OSHA investigation complete. Citations on Appeal. Fine to be Paid, 4 Citations/$8250 NAOCD/cDiver
  159. 1989 8 28 Foley David UK Topsides Aged 24, RN Submarine Base, Coulport/Faslane, Civilian diver, in a hut on a barge, preparing to dive, killed when a crane jib fell onto the hut. A fellow diver was seriously injured in the same incident. During the inquest, the court heard that a steel rope snapped, causing the steel jib to fall and crush a cabin on an off-shore barge where Mr Foley was changing into his wet suit. Mr Foley was killed instantly and another diver was injured. A pulley on the crane split and steel guide guards were later found to have been cut. Glasgow Herald
  160. 1989 8 28 Not Recorded UK Topsides Seriously injured at the RN Submarine Base Faslane, Civilian diver, in a hut on a barge, preparing to dive, his team-mate David Foley was killed when a crane jib fell onto the hut. During the inquest, the court heard that a steel rope snapped, causing the steel jib to fall and crush a cabin on an off-shore barge where Mr Foley was changing into his wet suit. Mr Foley was killed instantly and another diver was injured. A pulley on the crane split and steel guide guards were later found to have been cut. Glasgow Herald
  161. 1989 4 28 Rig 'Al Baz' Nigeria Sante Fe Jack Up, blow out, caught fire, burned and sank, 5 fatalities
  162. 1987 6 28 Penner Robert Steven Canada Day's Aquatic Services Aged 21, One of three divers hired by Halton regional District, reported as drowned whilst working in an underwater pipe, but no details. Toronto Star
  163. 1985 10 28 Rig 'Penrod 61' USA Jack Up, sank during hurricane Juan. Reported to have killed one person.
  164. 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
  165. 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
  166. 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
  167. 1973 8 28 Havlena Paul J UK Taylor Diving 98 Saturation American, aged 29. Barge "LB Meaders", "Push pull" gas system, Supply closed off while suction open, embolism, pulmonary haemorrhage
  168. 1968 4 28 Rig 'Dresser 2' USA Jack Up, Overturned and sank (Seabed soil failure)
  169. 1961 7 28 Beghtol Robert G USA Military SCUBA American police officer, Arvada, Colorado, aged 26, died during a training exercise
  170. 1961 2 28 Not Recorded Papua New Guinea Military SCUBA At the preliminary inquest into the death of Leading Able Seaman Allan Smith (Died during a training exercise alongside HMAS anti-submarine frigate 'Quiberon' berthed off Rushcutter Bay at Garden island. (Had been underwater about 15 minutes when he floated to the surface unconscious' Reported as “air embolism� , but no details) it became apparent that another Navy diver, a member of the Papua new Guinea Naval Division, had died under very similar conditions a day later at the Manus Naval Base. No details were given. Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.
  171. 1954 7 28 Larkin RN Leading Seaman Charles Brian Singapore Aged 20, serving on HMS 'Terror', one of two divers searching for contraband suspected of being dropped overboard from ships at the inner roads of Singapore harbour. Surfaced suddenly waving his arms, water around him stained with blood. Gashed from hip to thigh, died from loss of blood and shock. Reported as shark attack. Coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure. Straits Times
  172. 1952 7 28 David Jack Australia R & H Hocking 31 S/S Air Diver's Death. THURSDAY ISLAND, July 31.— “On Monday afternoon the pearling ketch ‘Trixen’, owned by Messrs. R. and H. Hockings, arrived in port flying the flag half-mast, indicating a dead diver. The dead man was Jack David, married, and aged about 27 years, of Yam Island. The boat was working in about 17 fathoms of water around Darnley Island, when the air and life lines apparently became fouled. It would appear that the deceased shed his helmet with the object of coming to the surface, but on reaching the surface he was beyond human aid. His body was taken to Yam Island for burial�. Reported in the Townsville Bulletin, Qld.
  173. 1948 8 28 Ballard Petty Officer W. UK Military 163 "Diver Descends 535 Feet". LONDON, August 28. "Petty Officer W. Ballard descended 535 feet from a submarine rescue ship into Loch Fyne, Argyllshire, and set up a new world record dive, which an American held at 440 feet. Ballard wore a specially adapted diving suit. His object was to enable naval technicians to perfect a diving suit in which rescuers can work at crash-dive depth of submarines". Reported in The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, Qld. Curiously, this record was also reported on the 10th of March 1950 in the Horsham Times (Victoria) with a photograph of Bollard being congratulated by fellow Royal Navy diver W. Soper who had also broken the previous record with a dive to a depth of 454 feet.
  174. 1944 7 28 White Peter Australia Harbor Trust S/S Air “RESOURCEFUL DIVER. Peter White, of Lyons steet, Harbor Trust diver, during the week captured a giant sunfish by pushing a boathook down its throat and then roping it. The fish was hoisted with a crane�. Williamstown Chronicle, Vic
  175. 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.
  176. 1938 6 28 Samarkos Manuel USA S/S Air Diver off the sponge vessel 'Elini' owned and operated by his brother, suffered appendicitis whilst diving, brought ashore and taken to hospital, but did not survive the operation. St Petersburg Times
  177. 1938 3 28 Granter Jake USA Standard Oil Company 30 S/S Air Aged 59, described as the chief underseas diver for the Standard Oil Company diving to locate a chain lost from the taqnker 'R. H. Hanna', was struck down by the bends, transferred from san Luis Obispo to Oakland by air ambulance, placed in a decompression chamber onboard the US submarine rescue ship 'Chewink' at the Mare Island navy yard. Was pressed to 125' and then gradually decompressed. He recovered consciousness but died shortly after from 'sudden cardiac failure'. San Jose News.
  178. 1935 7 28 Mitsui Kioshichi Australia J & T Muramata 42 S/S Air Japanese pearl diver aged 54. Lugger 'Cleve' out of Darwin, working the beds off Bathurst Island diving to 18 and 23 fathoms both morning and afternoon. On surfacing in the afternoon, complained of paralysis, was put back into gear and lowered to 120' before being brought in stages towards the surface. After 35 minutes he came to the surface by himself was hauled onboard but found to be dead. Reposted to be the third diver employed by Australian pearling companies to have died and been brought ashore in Darwin but that two others on foreign boats had also died but been taken ashore in the Dutch east Indies bring the Total to 5 fatalities in July. Reported in the Sydney morning Herald
  179. 1932 8 28 Dahl John USA 64 S/S Air Previously the wrecking master and chief diver with the Merritt & Chapman Wrecking Company, “Noted diver dies in Norfolk, Virginia� Salvage operation off the vessel “Salvor�, cargo recovery from the wreck of the Merida (sank after a collision with the Farragut 45 miles East of Cobb Island, Virginia, with reports of treasure onboard in 1911) in approx 200' of water. Diver's death attributed to heart disease but authoriies wanted an autopsy. No other details. Reported in the Sun (Baltimore, Md.)
  180. 1932 7 28 Riddle Forest USA S/S Air Aged 35 from Hebron, Kentucky, 'repairing wickets at government dam 31 on the Ohio River. Got trapped by a fouled airline for an hour then floated to the surface, dead. Physicians said no signs of drowning or suffocation and expressed the belief he died of heart disease. The Toledo News.
  181. 1927 1 28 Romans Louis Australia S/S Air Described as a native of Switzerland, aged 28 drowned at Darwin Jetty. Employed as a diver to fix some piping underwater, "his air pipe became fouled and the diver was dead when hauled up". The Brisbane Courier. Later reported that his airlines were severed by sharp oysters shells on the piles. Later reports went:- “CARELESS DIVER. At the-inquest into the death of the diver, Louis Romans, who was asphyxiated owing to the outlet valve in his helmet being out of order, it was stated that, the gear was in shocking condition. Despite frequent warnings, Romans persisted in using it. The coroner found a verdict of accidental death brought about by deceased's carelessness. Reported in the Northern Star, Lismore, NSW.
  182. 1913 9 28 Saunders Australia 27 S/S Air British, reported as the last of the 13 men 'imported from England' remaining working in the pearling industry. After a dive, collapsed onboard the schooner and died of diver's paralysis. Adelaide Advertiser. Perth, Monday - A Broome telegram States that Saunders, the last of the white divers engaged there, died after working a fortnight in 15 fathoms of water. In that time he only brought up three-quarters of a hundredweight of shell, while the Japanese in the same time secured a ton. The Argus, Melbourne
  183. 1913 2 28 Putris John Australia S/S Air "South Australia, Two Divers Drowned, Failure of air pumps". "Adelaide, Friday, two divers naned Stevenson and Putris were today drowned at the Wallaroo Jetty Works owing to the failure of thc pumps which supplied air to them". The two men had only been in the water about three minutes when the tender noticed he was not receiving any signals.. Stevenson was brought up and was just breathing but expired immediately, Putris was hauled up dead. Reported in the North Western Advocate and Emu Bay Times.
  184. 1913 2 28 Stevenson Frederick Australia S/S Air "South Australia, Two Divers Drowned, Failure of air pumps". "Adelaide, Friday, two divers naned Stevenson and Putris were today drowned at the Wallaroo Jetty Works owing to the failure of thc pumps which supplied air to them". The two men had only been in the water about three minutes when the tender noticed he was not receiving any signals.. Stevenson was brought up and was just breathing but expired immediately, Putris was hauled up dead. Reported in the North Western Advocate and Emu Bay Times.
  185. 1901 3 28 Not Recorded Australia Topsides “Another Chinaman died of dysentery in Palmerston Chinatown on Thursday night last. A Japanese diver died on Thursday from, we believe, the same cause�. No details. Reported in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette
  186. 1894 8 28 Not Recorded Australia 13 S/S Air "A Thurday Island telegram states that another Japanese diver has been drowned while working in 7 fathoms of water off Bada Island". South Australian Register. "The air pipe burst, and the diver, being inexperienced, failed to come to the surface, and the tender failed to haul him up until it was too late". The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton. "The pump and piping used were made in Japan" Reported in the Sydney Morning herald
  187. 1892 10 28 Not Recorded Australia Tomlin S/S Air "Cooktown. HMS 'Lizard' arrived from New Guinea where all is quiet. It is reported at Samarai (Island off SE New Guines in the Chana Strait) that one of Tomlin's and one of Clarke's pearl divers have drowned through disarrangement of the gear. Reported in The Norther iner (Charters Towers Qld)
  188. 1892 10 28 Not Recorded Australia Clarke S/S Air "Cooktown. HMS 'Lizard' arrived from New Guinea where all is quiet. It is reported at Samarai (Island off SE New Guines in the Chana Strait) that one of Tomlin's and one of Clarke's pearl divers have drowned through disarrangement of the gear. Reported in The Norther iner (Charters Towers Qld)
  189. 1881 10 28 Macpherson Thomas UK S/S Air "A diver suffocated on Friday. A diver named Thomas Macpherson of 1 Castle Street, Hull died under… " No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in The Derby Daily Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive
  190. 1867 10 28 Holt James UK River Tyne Commssioners S/S Air Sudden Death at North Shields. -- On Saturday afternoon, Mr James Holt, the River Tyne Commissioner' diver, died at his residence, in Rudyard Street, North Shields, of concussion of the brain, brought on, it is supposed, by the arduous nature of his vocation, after a, brief illness of twenty-four hours. Deceased, who was a native of Whitstable, had been in the employment of the Commissioners for the long period of twenty-one years, and was much respected for his genial and affable disposition by all who knew and came in contact with him. Shields Daily Gazette
  191. 2015 2 28 Vella Patrick Malta SalpaSub SCUBA Married, three children. "A 36-year-old diver from Zejtun, died in an accident at Palumbo Shipyards this morning. A spokesman for Palumbo said the company called SalpaSub for assistance when it noticed that a drydock was taking much longer than usual to be emptied. When Mr Vella, a director of SalpaSub, arrived, he dived to see what was wrong but did not return to the surface. This was around 11.45am. Palumbo called for assistance and a search was launched by members of the Civil Protection Department and the Armed Forces. Mr Vella, a marine biologist, was eventually brought up by the AFM and taken to Mater Dei Hospital, where he died soon after. An inquiry is being held. Five divers conducted the search for the missing worker and eventually found him stuck in a gate valve. It has not yet been confirmed how he ended up there, but sources have suggested that somebody who wasn't aware of the diver's presence opened a valve, consequently pulling him into the hole with a great force. A Palumbo spokesman on Saturday denied reports that the diver had been sucked in by the water pressure, saying there was no such mechanism. Sources told this newspaper the diver was called in to measure the diameter of a defective valve whose diameter was about that of a bucket". Reported by the Times of Malta
  192. 2016 12 28 Bahamonde Jose Chile Aged 56, shellfish diving from the vessel 'Javiera' (Registered in Achao) near Shilling Island, died, reported as decompression illness. Reported by biobiochile.cl
  193. 2018 8 28 Hamdan Mohammed Nasrallah Israel Nahshon Marine Construction SSDE Mohammed Hamdan, 33 years old Majd al-Krum, was killed today (Tuesday) in a diving accident site construction work on the new port of Haifa. Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated him to Rambam Hospital in the city, where he was pronounced dead. As far as is known, he was injured while operating underwater pumping equipment. The Hof police station reported: "At the center of 100, a report was received about a resident of the Galilee who was injured - apparently during underwater work when he operated equipment that he had in his possession. Researchers from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Transport were summoned. " Ronen Keren, CEO of Nahshon Underwater Works, said he still did not know the exact details of the incident under investigation: "What can be said at the moment is condolences to the family of the worker who was killed," he said. Mohammed Nasrallah Hamdan, 33, from Majd al-Krum in the Galilee, was survived by a wife and two young children, aged 6 and 4. Google Translate from: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5336729,00.html and https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5338011,00.html
  194. 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
  195. 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
  196. 2011 1 27 Not Recorded USA, Washington S/S Air Paraphrased from press reports:- “A 30-year-old commercial diver was taken to a hospital Thursday after his breathing apparatus malfunctioned near Suquamish. The Port Orchard man was harvesting geoduck while tethered with an air hose to a boat, said a North Kitsap Fire & Rescue spokeswoman. The diver was at a depth of 60 feet at about 11:30 a.m. when his breathing apparatus malfunctioned. The malfunction forced the diver to surface faster than recommended to avoid decompression sickness. He was driven by boat to a dock at Kiana Lodge in Suquamish where he was evaluated by medics. The man showed no symptoms of sickness and was transported to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton as a precaution. Reported as the second geoduck diving accident in as many months in the Suquamish area. (Two Bremerton divers were hospitalized Dec. 14 after the support boat they were tethered to drug them into deep water in Port Madison). North Kitsap Herald
  197. 2010 11 27 Not Recorded Norway Aged 47, Reports described him as 'A professional diver in his 40s was killed during a working dive at a pumping station at the Husqvarna factory in Sarpsborg, Ostfold on Saturday morning'. Possibly trapped underwater and/or lost air supply, but no details. Checking the factory inlet was an annual job he had done several times previousl. Water was ice covered at the time. The diver appears to have been a volunteer/sports diver from the Sarpsborg diving club but employed to undertake a commercial (water inlet) diving job. Does not appear to fit in with Norwegian regulations. No published incident report found to date. Reported by NTu
  198. 2010 9 27 Paillacar Victor Javier Chile Fisherman SCUBA Aged 24, scallop diver from the 'Luisa' 30 minutes transit out of Puerta Natales, brought ashore dead after what was described as a 'decompression problem'. No other details. Reported by Polar Radio
  199. 2010 7 27 McCullough Mike USA SCUBA American, mid twenties. Paraphrased from press reports:- “A SCUBA diver retrieving golf balls at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course drowned Tuesday afternoon, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department said. "The lady driving the boat to the green said she had seen him at the back edge of the green diving for balls but hadn't seen him in an hour and half," said one golfer. “We started looking around to see if we could see him and when we looked over the left side of the green, we saw his face down body limp under the water, about 15 feet (offshore). But he wasn't moving and there weren't any bubbles coming out. The witness and a staff member took a boat out, pulled the body aboard and took the victim to an adjacent dock around 4 pm. The witness said the body was without diving gear when it was spotted. He was pronounced dead at Kootenai Medical Center around 5 p.m He was working for a contractor who picks up golf balls and other debris from the lake bottom in the area. Tuesday afternoon his gear was still at the bottom of the lake, said the sheriff's department. “Our divers will recover that and investigate this as the case goes on�. CDA Press.
  200. 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
  201. 2009 10 27 de la Cruz Luis Benavides Peru Scallop diver S/S Air Aged 28, married with three children, in the afternoon, diving site was about three hours transit from El Dorado beach, compressor failed, boat came back to port with his body. No details, but appears no bailout or DDC on site. Reported in Diario de Chimbote
  202. 2008 7 27 Spencer William USA BIDCO 20 American, aged 42, working off the construction barge "Lone Star Horizon" (a 314' ong construction barge) on the Neptune LNG project (terminal and pipeline) 12 miles offshore Massachusetts. BIDCO (Buffalo Industrial Diving Company) were subcontractors to Caldive. Diver replacing air hose on stinger, reported difficulty breathing, stand-by divers brought him to the surface, CPR, medivac to hospital, later declared dead, heart attack.
  203. 2007 10 27 Luse William J USA 3 Aged 34, Trapped for about 15 minutes by water flow through a coffer dam 23/10/2007, lost air supply, initially thought to be recovering, died 4 days later “Luse got stuck when flowing water forced him into a void between the cofferdam and the gate, which was open and releasing water. A partner working with him was able to tie a rope to the trapped diver's equipment but was not able to pull him free. When Luse was eventually pulled up, the air hose he was using to breathe had been knocked from his mouth. Officials were uncertain how long he had been without air�.
  204. 2007 3 27 Wildin Leading Seaman Timothy Australia HMAS SCUBA Aged 24, diving off HMAS Frigate “Parramatta�, Jervis Bay, removing snagged commercial fishing gear from the propellers. “Seriously injured, spent time in intensive care�, Navy inquiry, report not seen, made a full recovery and returned to duties. At the Inquiry it was reported that he was found underwater, unconscious, entangled in fishing lines and may not have had easy access to his secondary breathing gear (Not fitted with a clip to keep it near his head), recovered to surface 'limp and vomiting'. smh.com.au/abc.net.au/news
  205. 2005 9 27 Hurricane Rita USA Category 5 hurricane, 155 mph winds and 60 foot seas. Rita caused significant damage offshore including 66 platforms destroyed, with 32 more suffering extensive damage, 13 MODUs broke their moorings and were set adrift, 1 jackup rig was sunk, with 7 jack-ups and 2 semi-subs experiencing extensive damage. 
Minerals Management Service
  206. 2005 9 27 Typhoon' TLP USA Chevron After the hurricane had passed, an aerial survey found the Chevron Typhoon tension leg platform floating upside-down, around 80 miles from its location in Green Canyon Block 236. In May 2006, Chevron declared that it would be donating the damaged platform to a U.S. Dept. of Interior program which uses old oil and gas platforms in the construction of artificial offshore reefs.
  207. 2005 8 27 Switala Michael USA Firefighter SCUBA American, aged 50, Lower Burrel, Pa, volunteer fire-fighter, Grove City Quarry, third training dive of the day, (purpose was to maintain PADI qualification). Completed dive, partner signaled ready to surface, he signaled back "OK� and began ascent but once on the surface could not locate Switala, but saw a flashlight distress signal underwater. Immediately descended, noticed that the regulator was out, tried to replace but it fell out, inflated BCD and brought him to the surface (estimated elapsed time at this point was less than one minute).. Taken to shore, immediately initiated CPR. Emergency medical services arrived within 15 minutes. Transported to a local hospital where he died the next day. The coroner listed the cause of death as drowning. Investigation recommended, 1: Fire departments should develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding diver training. 2: Fire departments should ensure that each diver maintains continuous visual, verbal, or physical contact with his or her dive partner. (line-tended from the surface or accompanied by another diver in the water) 3 : Fire departments should ensure that a backup diver and ninety-percent-ready diver are in position to render assistance. 4 : Fire departments should ensure that positive communication is established among all divers and those personnel who remain on the surface. (In this incident, there were no personnel at the surface to perform monitoring, and underwater diver-to-diver electronic devices were not used).
  208. 2004 7 27 Londo Luigi Italy Geomar 14 Rebreather 34 year old, off Trieste, three divers together off a small boat free swimming clearing pipeline outlet, died during the dive
  209. 2002 11 27 Kaluom Jengi USA Stolt Offshore Topsides Malaysian, pipe facing machine operator, injured onboard the DLB 801, medivac, no details
  210. 2000 6 27 Winkler Steven USA SCUBA American, aged 27, from Bellingham, professional sea cucumber harvesting off the vessel “Silver sea�, Griffin Bay, off San Juan island, critically ill, intensive care in Seattle hospital after surfacing from dive
  211. 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
  212. 1996 4 27 Binney John L USA SCUBA Aged 28, research assistant at the University of Oregon, hired by the US Army Corps of engineers to inspect a 130' deep shaft at the Hills Creek Reservoir dam. With partner Lavoy went to 90' in basket, Lavoy then went to 130' to inspect the bulkhead, returned to 90' basket and both ascended to 10' and then Lavoy climbed onto the wall to remove his gear. Binney's lifeline went slack and was pulled up, no diver. Lavoy got a fresh cylinder plus pare and went back into the water, down to 90'. After he had been there about 5 minutes, surface team reported that his bubbles suddenly got larger and then stopped. Basket recovered but Lavoy was dead. Binney's body was recovered from 130' by two SCUBA divers from Portland Commercial divers who completed the inspection work the following day. Double fatality.
  213. 1996 4 27 Lavoy Kenneth USA SCUBA Aged 22, owner of a SCUBA supply shop, hired by the US Army Corps of engineers to inspect a 130' deep shaft at the Hills Creek Reservoir dam. With partner Lavoy went to 90' in basket, Lavoy then went to 130' to inspect the bulkhead, returned to 90' basket and both ascended to 10' and then Lavoy climbed onto the wall to remove his gear. Binney's lifeline went slack and was pulled up, no diver. Lavoy got a fresh cylinder plus pare and went back into the water, down to 90'. After he had been there about 5 minutes, surface team reported that his bubbles suddenly got larger and then stopped. Basket recovered but Lavoy was dead. Binney's body was recovered from 130' by two SCUBA divers from Portland Commercial divers who completed the inspection work the following day. Double fatality.
  214. 1993 3 27 Wells, USN PO Kimberley L Honduras USN American, aged 24, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 working with a group of salvage experts from Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, , died while working to raise a sunken coastal freighter. The ship was blocking the entrance to a harbour in Roatan, Honduras. No details except that it was during underwater cutting operations. Reported in the Virginia Pilot
  215. 1990 7 27 SCUBA Sports Divers Reported in the Miami Herald “There is a saying that scuba diving is so much fun you could just die. Unfortunately, many do. Divers get swept away by currents, snagged in underwater wrecks, tangled in seaweed, hit by boats, lost under ice or in light less freshwater caves like the ones that honeycomb North Florida. In the 18 years ending in 1988, 2,562 divers died in scuba accidents, 499 of them in Florida, according to the National Underwater Accident Data Center (NUADC) at the University of Rhode Island�.
  216. 1989 7 27 Not Recorded USA Russian Navy SCUBA Joint USA/Russian military subsea photographic expedition sponsored by tha National Geographic Society onboard the Soviet vessel 'Keldysh'. Used two Mir submersibles to set bait boxes to attract sharks, but during the expedition a Soviet diver failed to surface. Unclear if his body was ever recovered. No details
  217. 1982 44 27 Rivera Anibal Argentina S/S Air Vomited underwater. Died. No details. PC
  218. 1982 10 27 Clark R. Kelly USA Crom Corporation SCUBA Aged 34, working in a 3 million gallon municipal water tank, looking for a leak, sucked into a pipe at the bottom of the tank, body recovered an hour later. The pipe acted as both inlet and outlest into the tank (balance pipe). "The president of the company said the divers had been in the tank 'for some time' and he had felt water coming into the tank. He said no one knows why water suddenly started flowing out". Gainsville Sun.
  219. 1981 8 27 Rig 'Petromar V' Thailand Drillship, sank after a blowout (Is this a duplicate rport for the "Petromadrill Norhsea" (sank mid 1980s in similar circumstances)
  220. 1980 3 27 Rig 'Alexander Kielland' Norway Phillips Pentagon semi submersible, Ekofisk Field, flotel at Eddas. Sructural failure, capsised (alternative story that the rig was deliberately sabotaged with explosives), 123 fatalities. No divers onboard
  221. 1974 8 27 Kelly Peter Norway Northern Divers 91 Saturation British, aged 27. Got a slug of pure Helium on descent, wearing a full face mask, collapsed and died, bell partner (Danny Stockes) wearing a half mask which dislodged, survived.
  222. 1974 8 27 Stockes Danny Norway Northern Divers 91 Saturation Ex Royal Marine Commando, got a slug of pure Helium on descent, knocked off half mask as he collapsed and survived, bell partner Peter Kelly, wearing a full face mask, died.
  223. 1966 4 27 Binney John L USA Military 40 SCUBA Aged 28, university of Oregon research assistant, hired by the US Army Corps of Engineers to inspect a 130' shaft containing a concrete bulkhead at the Hills Creek water reservoir near Oakridge, with partner (Lavey) descended to 90', partner left basket and went to 130', returned to basket and both divers recovered to 10', Lavey then swam to the top of the dam, left the water and began removing his gear. At this point Binney's lifeline went slack. Lavey went back into the water with a fresh tank plus spare. After about 5 minutes, workers on the surface saw a sudden increase in bubbles after which they stopped. Work basket was recovered, but he was dead when brought to the surface. Binney's body was recovered from 130 by divers from Portland Commercial divers (Who also completed the inspection work). Neither dead diver had air in their tanks when recovered though cause of death was not clear (twin hose regulators, could have vented) Double fatality. Reported in the Eugene register-Guard
  224. 1966 4 27 Lavey Kenneth USA Military 27 SCUBA Aged 22, owner of a Eugene SCUBA shop, hired by the US Army Corps of Engineers to inspect a 130' shaft containing a concrete bulkhead at the Hills Creek water reservoir near Oakridge, with partner (Binney) descended to 90', left partner in basket and went to 130', returned to basket and both divers recovered to 10', he then swam to the top of the dam, left the water and began removing his gear. At this point Binney's lifeline went slack. He went back into the water with a fresh tank plus spare. After about 5 minutes, workers on the surface saw a sudden increase in bubbles after which they stopped. Work basket was recovered, but he was dead when brought to the surface. Partner's body was recovered from 130 by divers from Portland Commercial divers (Who also completed the inspection work). Neither dead diver had air in their tanks when recovered though cause of death was not clear (twin hose regulators, could have vented) Double fatality. Reported in the Eugene register-Guard
  225. 1965 12 27 Rig 'Sea Gem' UK BP Converted barge with 10 legs, drilling on block 48, the West Sole field. At around 1345 hours on 27 December 1965, the crew were preparing to move the rig to a new location and commenced jacking down the main deck. A short time later, the passing freighter Baltrover witnessed the main deck lurch then fall towards port. The boat radioed for assistance at 1409 hours before coming to the aid of the Sea Gem's crew. Two of the rig's ten legs had apparently failed, causing the rig to fall sideways. Survivors stated that after about thirty minutes, the rig subsequently capsized and sank with one leg remaining above the sea. Some of the crew were able to launch a liferaft, which 14 of the crew managed to board. The rest of the crew were thrown or jumped into the freezing winter sea. Fortunately, the Baltrover was on scene quickly to pick up survivors. Other men were rescued by passing boats with an RAF and a civilian helicopter assisting. Of the 32 men on board, 19 were rescued, 13 died.
  226. 1961 2 27 Smith Leading Seaman Allan Leslie Australia Military 10 SCUBA Aged 24, Diving 'fairly shallow routine dive' alongside HMAS anti-submarine frigate 'Quiberon' berthed off Rushcutter Bay at Garden island. 'Had been underwater about 15 minutes when he floated to the surface unconscious' Reported as “air embolism� but no details. At the preliminary inquest his father asked if the Navy were aware that another Navy diver had died under very similar conditions a day later in New Guinea They were, but no details were given. Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.
  227. 1939 8 27 Anderson Carl USA Topsides Diver, from Staten island, diver for a marine construction Company was drowned in an accident when he came up but water poured over him after he took his helmet off. New York Times
  228. 1937 10 27 Bell James Australia Commonwealth Film Pty 9 S/S Air “DEATH OF DIVER. Tragic Circumstances�. CAIRNS. October 27. “James Bell, aged 39 employed as a diver for Commonwealth Film (Pty.) died suddenly at Green Island this afternoon, while engaged on film operations (They were filming 'Typhoon Tresure"). He was in a diving suit, being filmed in about 30 feet of water. As no replies to signals were received, he was immediately pulled to the surface. On removing the helmet, he was found to be dead. The body was brought to Cairns on the Yarrabah comission launch. As far as can be ascertained, his only relative, Mrs. Fowkes, supposed to be his mother, is at Wattleglen, Victoria. Reported in the Townsville Daily Bulletin, Qld. NB 'Typhoon Treasure' is a 1938 Australian adventure film directed by Noel Monkman set in New Guinea although shot on the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland coast. It was Monkman's first dramatic feature film after several years making documentaries. The plot involves Alan Richards as the sole survivor of a pearling lugger which has been shipwrecked on Pakema Reef during a typhoon. He sets out to recover some pearls which went missing in the wreck, crossing through the jungle and fighting headhunters. While filming underwater scenes on Green Island in October, one of the divers, James Bell, died of myocarditis. Bruce Cummings, who was in charge of underwater photography, went down in a diving cylinder, followed a few minutes later by Bell, who was his assistant. A few minutes later Cummings noticed something was wrong with Bell. When they brought him to the surface he was dead. An inquest was later held which found no negligence
  229. 1935 4 27 Kanada Hachiro Australia 15 S/S Air “JAPANESE DIVER KILLED. Air Pipe Line Broken�. CAIRNS. April 26. “Hackiro Kamada, a Japanese pearl diver, died at Alligator Passage, near Badu Island, while diving for shell. It is believed that an air pipe broke when the lugger drifted on the tide before the anchor could be dropped. Kamada was a member of the crew of the lugger ‘Drayton’, and in company with Chokichi, Murada dived into eight fathoms of water. About five minutes later Murada came to the surface and noticed Kamada on top of the water, with no helmet or corselet. A. dinghy was placed overboard, and members of the crew made towards the unconscious man, but the craft sank. They then swam to Kamada, and placed him on the deck of the lugger. He was breathing heavily. A flag was hoisted, and the lugger Sorrel, owned by the Bowden Pearling Co., responded�. “LOWERED INTO SEA�. “A helmet and corselet were placed on Kamada, and he was lowered to the bottom of the sea, and was kept under water for one and a half hours, but showed no signs of improving. He was pulled up on to the deck again, and it was noticed that his neck and face were swollen, and he was apparently dead. Then he was taken to Thursday Island. Dr. R. J. Nimmo (Government medical officer) Issued a certificate stating that death was due to (1) asphyxia by drowning, (2) myocarditis (accidental). Reported in the Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Qld.
  230. 1934 9 27 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Salvage dive from the vessel 'Bertha'. No details
  231. 1934 7 27 Griffen USN Fireman third class James R USA Military 30 Submarine New London Submarine Base, Escape training exercise in a 100' deep training tank, air embolism, died in a decompression chamber several hours later. Reported as lost control of lung and shot to the surface holding his breath. New York Times
  232. 1934 2 27 Not Recorded Tom UK Royal Society Lecture 15 S/S Air During a lecture in London, Sir Robert Davis (Inventor of the submarine escape apparatus) described how a diver "Tom," got drunk 50' underwater. "While salvaging a ship, found himself in a air pocket, free of water. He spotted a case of whisky near by, and promptly unscrewed the mouthpiece of his diving helmet and broached a bottle. He tied his lifeline round a stanchion to avoid his enjoyment being interrupted from the surface. We became anxious as Tom sent up no cargo for two hours. When at last he reached the surface he was dead drunk. If the air pocket had filled with water, or Tom had miscalculated his capacity and failed to replace the mouth-piece of his helmet he would have been drowned." Reported in the Brisbane Courier Mail.
  233. 1931 4 27 Long (or Lang?) Charles UK Gloucester Dock Company Topsides "Gloucester's only diver killed . Motor cycle collision with cyclist Chales Long (43), diver for the Gloucester Dock Company, was killed.." "Diver killed in cycle collision. Gl;oucester's only diver, Charles Lang (43) of Tuffley was killed in a collision near Hempstead..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Cheltenham Chronicle/The British Newspaper Archive
  234. 1919 3 27 Thiemann USN USA Military S/S Air American Navy diver, died whilst diving for a torpedo off St Thomas, Virginia
  235. 1907 8 27 Leverettt UK "The torpedo wreck off Berry Head" " …act of diver Leverett, he died the following day. Yesterday the boat was successfully raised by the Deveonport dockyard riggers..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in TheExeter and Plumouth Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  236. 2021 7 27 Walker Staff Sgt. Micah USA Military Surface Swimmer Soldier assigned to 10th Special forces at the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) in Key West, Florida, undergoing the CDQC (Combat Diver Qualification Course) drowned during pool training. "The Staff Sergeant was a student in the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, and was participating in a conditioning exercise in the pool, which stresses the students’ cardio, respiratory and muscular endurance,” the release said. During the training event, the Soldier submerged and did not resurface. The cadre immediately entered the pool and found him unresponsive, read the release. “The Dive Medical Officer attempted to resuscitate him, and he was transported to the Lower Keys Medical Center Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead following full medical intervention". Second CDQC fatality in under a year (Staff Sgt Paul Olmstead during pre-selection 'martime assessment' 23rd September 2020)
  237. 1893 3 27 George Australia 51 S/S Air Paraphrased from a report in the Brisbane Courier. “A native of Samoa, diving from the pearling lugger 'Rotumah' in very deep water, the line showing twenty-eight fathoms. He had previously been down thrice, and the temptation to go down and gather many more was so very great that George cast aside the terrible warnings which had been given by the fatality with so many previous drivers. George thought he was strong and healthy, and could withstand the pressure of water at great depths. When George rose, to the surface on the fourth occasion he showed signs of distress and asked to have his dress taken off. This was immediately done and he asked for a drink of water and some painkiller. The latter was speedily obtained from the cabin and a few drops of it placed in a cup of water. This George took with the intention of drinking. The unfortunate victim only succeeded in clicking the cup against his tooth. Then he fell back on to the cabin-house in a death like swoon. Poor George never regained consciousness, but about 5 o'clock, or three hours after leaving the briny for the last time, he gave three long gasps and died�.
  238. 1878 8 27 Not Recorded UK Military S/S Air "..body of a diver who died from syncope while engaged in diving practice from the gunnery ship 'Excellence' in Portsmouth Harbour, the..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Bristol Mercury/The British Newspaper Archive. Presumed to be another report into the death of Jeremoah Shanahan(27/8/1878)
  239. 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).
  240. 1982 4 27 Rivera Anibal Argentina Comex S/S Air Got into difficulty while underwater, vomited and subsequently drowned. No other details. PC
  241. 2016 1 27 Birkland Sondre Norway AD Offshore SS/Air Aged 22, sucked into the bottom of a pontoon of the Transocean semi sub Henry Goodrich in the Westcom yard when a cement plug or cap lifted off the top of the pontoon as he was installing a blanking plate at the underside hull (IOGP Incident report 275)
  242. 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
  243. 2019 12 27 Galletti Wolfrang Angola Rana Diving S.p.a. / Aquatic Deepwater Sonangol P&P 82m Sat Commercial Diver 42 years old born in Trieste . Italy on December 28th 1976. Working for RANA Diving S.p.a.onboard of the SBM Installer at Block 3 in Angola , blowdown on December 23rd 2019. When bell run 011 on December 27th 2019 working at seabed around 82 m.s.w. like Diver2 was smashed between a pipe (long ~10 meters/ weight ~ 1 tone) and one DMA in a fatal accident not yet clarified . 24 days to repatriate the corpse that arrive Italy on January 20th 2020. From the autopsy made in Angola and performed in Portuguese First: Wolfrang died of a shock resulting from a thoracic trauma that compromised the aorta. On the body there are also wounds and bruises on the head, in particular on the cheekbones and on the occipital part. Second: the Angolan coroner who performed the autopsy classifies the death as "accident at work". On Tuesday 11th February 2020 forty five days after his death was buried in Trieste his Italian city. No Company or IMCA information about this fatality yet.
  244. 2020 10 27 Paxton Alex USA Georgia Power S/S Air "Aged 31, Oliver Dam near Columbus, reported as drowning, 'had to be rescued and transported to Piedmont columbus regional Emergency Room, pronounced dead', possibly Differential Pressure but no details, reported by WTVM OSHA summary stated t 2:30 p.m. on October 27, 2020, Employee #1, Coworkers #1 and #2, and their supervisor, divers employed by a civil engineering construction company, were engaged in a diving operation at a lake dam. They were assigned to conduct inspections and repairs to several gates and chains. During a solitary dive with an umbilical supplying breathing gas and video, Employee #1 climbed down a long ladder to the water's surface. He then descended into the water, sliding down the chain with his right hand while feeling the side of the dam face with his left hand to guide his way down. At a depth of approximately 15 to 20 feet, his left hand came into contact with a 10-inch hole in the dam's face that led into a Penstock Pipe. Differential pressure caused the employee's left arm to be sucked into the pipe up to his shoulder. He cried out and then went silent and unresponsive. The dive supervisor attempted several times to communicate with Employee #1 but received no response. The supervisor instructed Coworker #1, the backup diver, to go into the water. Coworker #1, after reaching Employee #1, reported that Employee #1 remained unresponsive with no signs of breathing. Coworker #1 was unable to free him from the pipe. Several dam employees were called to the scene, and one of the dam operators closed a valve which released the diver from the pipe. Coworker #1 brought Employee #1 to the water's surface, where he was attached to the emergency retrieval system, removed from the water, and placed on the main deck where emergency medical technicians were standing by. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was declared dead. The subsequent investigation reported that mechanical asphyxiation may have been the cause of death. At no time had Employee #1 lost air. OSHA concluded contractor complacency, lack of knowledge of site, lack of risk assessment, no LOTO, did not verify valve closed, ineffective use of flowmeter, client complacency, lack of knowledge of own systems (Did not know which valve to close), flawed LOTO procedures (Logbook showed valve closed but it was not)"
  245. 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
  246. 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
  247. 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
  248. 2013 2 26 Harris, USN Navy Diver Second Class Ryan USA USN From Gladstone, Missouri,Married, two daughters aged 3 and 1 year old, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Died in a double fatality incident (with James Reyher) at at the US Army UNDEX Test Facility (UTF) 'super pond' at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The UTF is 1070 feet long, 150 feet deep. One of the divers was pronounced dead at the scene while the second was taken to an area hospital where he was also pronounced dead. A spokesman for the Aberdeen Proving Ground said Tuesday's deaths are not believed to be connected to the earlier incident (George Lazaro killed 30th January 2013 during maitenance activities). But officials said that the test facility has been closed for all diving operations until investigations into the recent deaths are done. No details but autopsy results confirmed 'drowning'. Reported as the only deaths since the facility opened in 1995. Associated Press
  249. 2013 2 26 Reyher, USN Navt Diver First Class James USA USN Aged 28 from Caldwell, Ohio, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Died in a double fatality incident (with Ryan Harris) at at the US Army UNDEX Test Facility (UTF) 'super pond' at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The UTF is 1070 feet long, 150 feet deep. One of the divers was pronounced dead at the scene while the second was taken to an area hospital where he was also pronounced dead. A spokesman for the Aberdeen Proving Ground said Tuesday's deaths are not believed to be connected to the earlier incident (George Lazaro killed 30th January 2013 during maitenance activities). But officials said that the test facility has been closed for all diving operations until investigations into the recent deaths are done. No details but autopsy results confirmed 'drowning'. Reported as the only deaths since the facility opened in 1995. Associated Press
  250. 2012 6 26 Not Recorded Nigeria S/S Air Diver from Ijar described as 'senior' with 25 years of experience working for a contractor out of Port Harcourt (Rivers State). Disappeared during salvage of a sunken dredger on the Ughelli River (Delta State). Reported as having reached the position of the sunken dredger then disappeared. Appears from photos to have been a surface supplied mobile/portable set up, but no details. The dredger was run by a contractor (Owned by the Hon Friday Onodjai, former chairman of of the Ughelli North Local Government council and one time member representinf Ughelli North in the Delta State house of Assembly) working for NDDC (Niger Delta Development Company) and sank on Monday 25th near the Amekpa junction 'while executing a project to open up the river'. Search for the diver continued Thursday 28th admist confrontation with the local Otor-iwhreko community trying to stop the search operation until after ceremonies to appease their Gods for defilement of the river by the dead diver. Riot controlled by the military. It was alleged that prior to the commencement of the dredging, some employees of the owner of the dredger had made some spiritual consultations and disclosed to Hon. Onodjai that there is the need to appease the gods of the river before the commencement of the project, a suggestion Onodjai allegedly refused with a wave of the hand saying that he is a Christian and that such insinuations are mere superstitious beliefs. However, a week after the commencement of the project, the dredger sank and in an attempt to recover it, divers were brought in from Port Harcourt. It was during the rescue of the dredger that one of the divers was discovered missing after he had gone into the water but failed to come out. Another report commented that prior to this incident, there have been a series of profitable excavating activities due to the high demand of white sand for construction activities in the area (So was this a publicly funded river widening operation or commercial sand extraction?) Reported by Urhobo Times/Vanguard.
  251. 2012 1 26 Gallant Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor USA US Navy 34 Aged 22 from Winchester, Ky, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Navy diver based at Little Creek-Fort Story with the Mobile EOD unit 12 died during a training dive 40 kilometres off the North Carolina coast from the Canadian Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel 'HMCS Smmerside' during preparations for 'Bold Alligator 2012', an international amphibious training exercise due to start the following week. Reported as failing to respond to signals at which stage a stand-by diver was deployed who found him unresponsive and brought him to the surface. Flown ashore to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune but declared dead on arrival. No other details but investigation reported as ongoing. Reported in Navy News.
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