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Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 2002 3 7 Thomas Darrin Paul USA Divcon 6 S/S Air Working beneath the 'Horseshoe' riverboat casino on the Red River, Baton Rouge, with dredging equipment when he lost comms with the surface. A standby diver was slow entering the water and once in the water was unable to locate the diver. The diver's body was recovered by civil rescue divers called to the scene. Reported in “The Advocate�
  3. 2009 7 6 Brown Darren UK Shell Seekers SCUBA Aged 41, Gathering scallops in Lulworth cove. Diving solo from a RIB with a boat handler who was collecting the scallops in bags marked by surface buoys . She raised the alarm when she came to the last marker buoy and the diver was missing. Three Coastguard teams scoured the shoreline, Weymouth inshore and all weather RNLI lifeboats and Coastguard helicopter searched at sea joined by RN mine hunter HMS Middleton (on exercise in the area) but it was a safety boat from the Army's Lulworth range which found him three hours later, swimming with the tide three miles away. “Diver was difficult to locate because he was not carrying a surface detection aid, however the fact that he was wearing a dry suit increased his survivability� (in the water for about four-and-a-half hours). Quote:- "That's the risks we take to supply shellfish to these top celebrity chefs, it highlights the dangers we take and we depend on getting paid reasonably for our efforts�. He said that he will now always carry day and night flares and other aids.
  4. 1962 11 19 Hayes Darrell USA Columbia River Divers 27 SCUBA Aged 33, Undertaking repairs to the bulkhead gate guides on the Priest Rapids dam. Surfacing after the dive with partner and apparently fell out of the dive basket when changing tanks. Recovered by partner from bed of dam at 110' after 8 minutes. Pronounced dead. It was his first commercial dive.
  5. 2010 12 2 White Danny Williams Nicaragua Pasenic SCUBA Aged 31, diving to retrieve two anchors from the fishing vessel “Lady Sylvia� owned by Pasenic (Nicaraguan Shellfish growers). Solo dive, 30 minutes into the dive was found by colleagues dead on the seabed between the two anchors. Medical examiner stated cause of death was a heart problem. Survived by wife, 3 year old son and 1 year old daughter. Had worked for Pasenic for 11 years. Reported by GPS Diving
  6. 2012 9 22 Collins Danny USA Fireman 18 SCUBA Captain in the Conway Fire depatment, training dive (grid search) in Hot Springs. Apparently got entangled, brought to the surface by his partner but had breathing difficulties. Flown to Shreveport hospital (Louisiana) for treatment for an embolism. Firefighterclosecalls.com
  7. 2000 12 20 Thorpe Danny Australia Aged 47, abalone diver, one of a two man crew, boat overturned on the Monday, after clinging to the overturned hull for several hours, the skipper swam to shore but was swept 30 kilometres in 15 hours to a remote shore where he wae found on Wednesday. Known shark area, crewman decided to stay with the hull. Shredded remains of a life preserver found washed up later. Presumed shark attack. Skipper vowed he would never go back to sea. Philippine Daily Inquirer. NB Skipper did return to sea, only to lose another crewman to shark attack eleven years later (Peter Clarkson, February 2011)
  8. 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.
  9. 2012 2 23 Cappanera Daniele Italy 41 South Energy SCUBA Aged 41, doing maintenance work on an experimental tidal measurement buoy a mile offshore from Punta Righini (Castiglioncello, Livorno). Saw his colleague (Francis Vezzani) motionless on the seabed (at 'several 10s of metres deep') and went down to recover him, brought to the surface but colleague was pronounced dead when they reached port. Daniele Cappanera was taken to Pisa hyperbaric centre for treatment (suspected DCI). La Republica
  10. 2013 8 12 Huamaní Lloclla Daniel Franklin Peru Fenix Power Unknown Huamaní Lloclla, Daniel Franklin, aged 29, Peruvian Navy Diver with 12 years diving experience, sub-contracted to work for Fenix power in Chilca (520MW power plant being built about 65 kilometres south of Lima), appears to have either suffered a head injury (early reports) or to have been sucked into a seawater cooling inlet pipe and drowned at 14:00 (Later reports indicate differential pressure, pumps not turned off)<br />There have been other military divers killed in South America when serving but apparently 'sub-contracted/hired out/moonlighting/training/'? to government sponsored civil engineering projects by private corporations, seems to be common practice.
  11. 2010 3 22 Medina Daniel Choquehuanca Renzo Peru Aged 21, from La Bocana, shellfish (Scallops) diving operation off the island 'Lobo de Mar' (Or Isla Lobo de Tierra) 8 hours out of Parachique from the vessel 'Brandon IV', reported as a long dive, surfaced with a pulmonary embolism and died. Body brought ashore and taken to the central morgue in Piura, pronounced cause of death as lung collapse. Reported in La Primera, Peru
  12. 2006 12 9 Vera Daniel Castro Chile Invertec SCUBA Diver, Mapué Cultivation Center (close to Tranqui Island, South of Chiloé), Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  13. 2012 3 18 Kelley Daniel USA Sunset Beach Oyster Company 4 Aged 48, commercial geoduck harvesting off Ayock point in the Hood Canal, ill in the water and stopped responding to signals, pulled out of the water and began CPR, transported ashore and taken to Mason General hospital where he was pronounced dead. Reported as having drowned after having a heart attack. Autopsy revealed the diver 'had pre-existing conditions that may have led to the heart attack'. Toxicology testing ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. KMAS News Radio
  14. 2008 0 0 Bartee Daniel USA Bo Mac Maritime law blog, working as a diver, injured whilst working on the Mississippi, 6th March (2008??), injuries to heart, lung and others organs. Law suit under Jones act, no details
  15. 1989 1 11 Sullivan Daniel USA 17 S/S Air Aged 30, State department of inland fisheries and wildlife. A diver working on the 80 foot high Wilderness Dam (Owned by Great Northern Paper), got trapped underwater by pressure at a leak point on the dam face. Sullivan got trapped at the same location about an hour later during a rescue attempt. Both were pulled out using winches after a second rescue diver, Brian Michaud, managed to attached pulling ropes to their harnesses 11 hours after the initial incident, but he died three hours after arriving at hospital Double fatality (Albert Harjula). Michaud was hospitalised but OK. Spokane Chronicle
  16. 1905 6 4 Hayes Daniel USA S/S Air American, town of Keokuk in Iowa, clearing lake drainage pipe, sucked under the refuse and against a boulder, he and tangled hose trapped by differential pressure at around 15:00 hours on the 3rd of June. Rescued by two government works divers 24 hours later and pulled to the surface "unconscious and almost dying"
  17. 2017 4 18 Hall Daniel USA Fisherman 75m? SCUBA Aged 36, Puget Sound, near Fox Island, commercial Geoduck diver, pulled unresponsive back onto the Squaxin island tribal vessel 100 yards offshore around 14:00 and taken to the nearby US Navy Warfare Center dock and transferred to the St. Joseph Medical Centre in Tacoma where he was confirmed as deceased. Reported in The News Tribune
  18. 1993 0 0 Avillanoza Dandy UAE S/S Air Died inside a power stations intake pipeline at Jebel Ali D Station early 90's when the Kirby 10 Hood retainer / steel band came away from the hat as someone had not tightened it after service/drying the hood, local civils contractor.
  19. 1921 6 17 Godfrey Damon S Canada 8 S/S Air Sault Ste Marie, city on the St Marys River, Diver's lines tangled, unable to signal surface, lost helmet seal, gradual flooding of suit, drowned. Reported in the New York Times
  20. 1998 1 16 Woods Damon UK SCUBA Aged 25, from Aukland, New Zealand, had joined the Ullapool based fishing Vessel "Our Hazel' 10 days previously. Only had sports diving qualifications, dived under the vessel to clear the propellor at sea, went down with rope, rope came to surface, diver diasppeared, large SAR exercise but body not recovered. 'At work, employed, diving, died' so included in list, but not qualified, not actually employed as a diver, not a 'diving project' but another example of a 'working diver being killed'. Vessel owner fined just £400 under the HASAWA (person was an employee, sprecifically was not self employed). Inquest in Stornoway in August 2000 described the voluntary dive to clear the propellor, surface rope ttached to SCUBA cylinder with a bowline, as he entered the water he lost a fin and then kicked off the other, came to the suface calling to be pulled in, sank, rope was pulled in but knot came undone, diver was never seen again. Herald Scotland.
  21. 2007 9 0 Kok Damien Tan Yee Malaysia Master Tech 30 S/S Air Singaporean, Cable lay, relocating dredge, KM18 band mask, suspected band mask off, possible head injuries, Trained by Singaporean Navy, inadequate equipment, inadequate team size, no quals, 'supervisor' qualified as trainee supervisor only.
  22. 2004 7 3 Byrne Damien Ireland North East Diving Services Irish, aged 24 died after he became entangled in lines during a salvage operation on a sailing yacht that sank over the weekend in Dublin Bay. Sunday, three man salvage crew, only one experienced in salvage operations. On arrival at site, they did not anchor over the yacht as the owners were afraid that it could damage the yacht. This meant the dive boat was not firmly anchored and drifted some distance from the dive site. Straps and lifting bags were attached to the yacht in preparation for raising it. After discovering one of the lifting bags would not inflate, it was decided to abandon the operation for the night. However, after consultation with the owners, it was decided to deflate the bags in case the yacht would drift and damage its hull. Mr Byrne dived again at 8.05pm and sometime later it was noticed that no bubbles from his air tank were visible on the surface. Diver 3 dived at 8.15 pm. He was low on air so he had to come up before freeing Mr Byrne from the lines. After he was rescued, first aid was administered to Mr Byrne on the dive boat before he was transferred to hospital where he died later that day. €25k fine imposed on the diving company and €20k on the company's director (Who was out of country at the time of the accident) who pleaded guilty to not having adequate safety equipment during the dive. Diving Company closed down.
  23. 2001 0 5 Harchenko D USSR Aged 27, Yablonovsky village While working on recovering a car from the Kuban river, trapped in car door, lost of regulator. Failed to use knife or drop weight belt, drowned. Undersea Review
  24. 1977 8 20 Sansalone D UK Subsea Oil Services 23 SCUBA Italian, aged 29. Pipelay barge "Semac I", Working on stinger, 2 working divers plus stand-by, lost comms, continued working, Inexperienced in prevailing conditions, drowned
  25. 2007 4 6 Hall, USN Curtis R Iraq US Navy Topsides Aged 22, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Killed in the same incident were two other divers, Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky., and Petty Officer Joseph McSween, 26, the Defense Department said. The three were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them. Military Times
  26. 2004 4 23 Buttrey Curtis USA 18 SCUBA American, aged 41, Contract diver working for the St Paul Regional Water Services, in Vadnais lake, cleaning water plant intake filter, at end of dive he and his partner left the job site but he failed to surface, apparently got caught in some weeds and cables. His body was recovered about three hours later. Drowned. No explanation. Reported in Star Tribune (MN)
  27. 2002 6 25 Jelasi Cristiano Italy Tecnosub 80 SCUBA Aged 25, off the island of Capri (Thyrrenian Sea), diving in SCUBA to 80 metres, alone, off a small boat to cut ropes off a recently installed water pipeline prior to trenching operations. Died in the water
  28. 2010 9 9 Zarafu Cristian Romania Hunter SRL 40 SCUBA Turkish cargo vessel 'Medy' sank six miles off Constanta breakwater on the 1st September 2010. Private diving contractor put 4 divers onboard an ARSVOM (Navy) vessel to do a pollution survey to establish a contingency plan. First team dived successfully, second team (Ispas and Zarafu) followed, but nether surfaced. Romanian authorities intervened to remove the 22 tons of fuel and about two tons of oil and hired in a specialist Turkish diving contractor. To reach fuel tanks and engine room of the wreck, divers made a hole in the hull and began emptying the fuel tanks. The body of Ispas was found inside the engine room on the 12th December (Drowned, but with 20 bar air pressure still in his cylinder). Attributed to Nitrogen Narcosis. Apparently entered the wreck without using a lifeline (Ispas worked for the emergency services but worked also for the diving contractor, unclear if he was a qualified commercial diver, Zarrafu was a full time commercial diver. No DDC, no medical back-up. The body of Zarafu was recovered on the 23rd December. Reported by Jurnalul.ro
  29. 2021 2 25 Diaz Leiva Cristian Chile Servicios Primes SCUBA Aged 58. Married, 8 children. Blumar owned Concheo II salmon farm, Aysen, Southern Chile. Reported as 'accident around 12:30 am', 'suffocation by submersion in the context of a work accident', 'handling counterweights', No other details. Reported by Salmon Business. Diving off the 'LM Don Hector' reported by SagaChile. Later reported that the regulatory 'Chilean Safety Association' (ACHS) said 'not work related' as there was no link between the diver's work and death.....
  30. 1891 2 11 Francis Cranky Australia Topsides Thursday island, A high tide, two vessels lost, their crews drowned. "Thursday Island, Wednesday, Heavy gusty squalls still prevail here. It is reported that the lugger 'Kingfisher' has been wrecked off Mount Adolphus island and the crew drowned. The 'King Kow' was also wrecked on the fishing grounds near Dalrymple and a diver known as 'Cranky Francis' and three men were drowned. The tide rose yesterday beyond all previous marks". Reported in the Australian Town and Country Journal, NSW.
  31. 2001 8 10 Sempert Craig E USA SCUBA Aged 44, Owner of Craig's Dive Shop in Craig, was diving for a survey by Cape Fox Corp. Apparently got trapped in the outflow pipe from the power station pond south of Ketchikan, his body was recovered from the outflow pipe after his wife reported Friday afternoon that he hadn't come back from the dive. Inference is solo dive on SCUBA. Reported in Kenai Peninsula on-line
  32. 2017 10 17 Lehner Craig E USA Police 8m SCUBA Aged 34. Buffalo Police department, Police dive team training exercise in the Niagara river off Bird Island Pier, 12:50, lifeline to surface snagged, pulled from various directions butt stayed snagged, two officers attempted to follow his lifeline down but had to cut themselves free (Reported as 12 knot current!). Slid an emergency air tank down but it would not sink, 45' USCG patrol boat arrived at 13:10, tried pulling the lifeline from other directions but the line snapped. 5 days later his body floated to the surface a mile north with 75 feet of lifeline still attached to him, still with tanks and 40lb weightbelt. Reported in the Buffalo News
  33. 2001 5 3 Devis Craig Australia Relik Pty Ltd. 15 S/S Air Diving off Forbes Island Great Northern Barrier Reef, harvesting rock lobster. Following no response from diver for several minutes tender driver hauled diver to surface unconscious. CPR attempts unsuccessful. Oxygen equipment unsuitable for non breathing person. Air intake hose to petrol driven compressor had split. Weighted vest unable to be released in emergency. No alternate air supply . Prosecution (Above plus unsafe Hookah unit). Drowning with carbon monoxide toxicity and DCI as contributory factors). Workplace Health and Safety, Queensland.
  34. 1993 0 0 Fredericks Craig Canada Ocean Tech Saturation DSV Discovery, crushed finger during mattress installation work on the CoPan field, decompressed, medivac, reduced mobility in the injured finger
  35. 1991 11 18 Goh Cpt. Chong Kiat Singapore Aged 35, Singaporean Naval Officer, went missing during a training exercise, body found by Singapore Authorities tugboat 2 km north of Pulau Bukom and recovered by the Republic of Singapore Navy. Inquiry was held in February 1994. No other details. Straits Times
  36. 2016 6 6 Long Cpt. Bradley USA SAR Firefighter 25m SCUBA Aged 28, volunteer firefighter and rescue diver with the Sherrills Ford-Terrell fire department diving with two others searching for the body a man drowned a day earlier in Lake Norman. Some kind of incident underwater, two surfaced and taken to hospital, his body was recovered soon after, declared dead at site. Later reported that he left bottom and headed for the surface before signalling that he had run out of air, appeared to panic ripping of his own and another divers masks, the other diver surfaced safely, Long's body recovered later . Reported by WBTV
  37. 2010 10 18 Tiffin CPO Andrew Afghanistan Canadian Navy Topsides Canadian, 42-year-old father of two, naval clearance diver and explosive ordnance disposal technician. (Friend and colleague of Craig Blake - killed 3rd of May - whose coffin he escorted home). He specialized in the analysis of explosive devices, based in Kandahar, working on a seemingly disabled device when it blew apart in his hands. Severely damaged left hand, also arms injuries, medivac to Germany and then onward to Canada. The Star.com. (Included for information, a diver, but not working as a diver so not counted as a diving fatality TC)
  38. 1991 1 9 Juan Cpl. Soh Taim Singapore Navy Aged 21, went missing during a night exercise off Sembawang, reported as drowned. No other details. Straits Times
  39. 1943 9 15 Lydan Cpl. J. H. Australia Military 6 Diver Rescues Troops' Beer. SYDNEY, Wed— When the weekly beer ration of an anti-aircraft unit in a remote North-Western area fell into 20 feet of water, the troops gave it up far lost, but the fortuitous passing of a diver saved it. Diving to the bottom, Cpl. J. H. Lydan, of Sydney, located the case and brought it to shore. Lydan and Sgt. G. Urquhart, of Turramurra, are the first Australian soldiers to qualify at a Navy diving school. They are attached to an Army water transport unit. Reported in The Daily News, Perth.
  40. 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
  41. 2012 11 13 Lucyk Corpoal Lionel France Fireman SCUBA Aged 38, professional diver/firefighter, diving with a partner as part of a 4 man team from the St Nazaire fire and rescue centre in heavy seas to cut nets off the propellor of a disabled trawler in the bay between Le Pouliguen and Pornichet, details unclear, but failed to surface, found unconscious near the fishing boat but failed to respond to treatment. Married with a daughter. Reported by Letelegramme.com
  42. 1997 11 20 Carriere, RCMP Constable Joseph Francois "Frank" Canada RCMP 10 SCUBA Aged 41, Cape Breton, part of a police team carrying out a drugs search on the hull of a Danish registered bulk carrier (The "Donia Portland", beam 80', length 450') at little narrows on the Bras d'Or akes (Cape Bretn). 5 man diving eam, zodiac and spotter, on AGA masks with micom comms. Ran out of air, tried buddy sharing, got separated, lost in bad visibility, body recovered the day after. Drowned. Leaking mask, gauge 'over-reading, possible contaminated air. RCMP prosecuted and fined. Now they use S/S equipment. Halifax Chronicle. Canadian Coastguard vessel ("CCGS Constable Carriere"), launched 2013 is to be one of nine vessels named after fallen Canadian heroes.
  43. 1998 8 13 Nicolson Constable David Canada Police SCUBA Police diver searching dam for missing 12 year old boy was sucked into same sluice. On a life line but it broke (along with his regulator) when pulled by the surface crew. Drowned. Ontario Ministry of Labour investigator concluded the diver would not have drowned had the dive been conducted according to the  Occupational Health and Safety Act and its diving regulations and recommended charges be laid against Waterloo regional police for several offences under the act, including failing to properly plan, equip and supervise a dive of that type, but the ministry chose not to lay charges because there was not a reasonable prospect of securing a conviction (his investigation identified safe-diving practices that were not followed that night including lack of identifying and controlling the hazardous sluice, failing to use a supply of air from the surface for a dive near a dam, and limited training in doing dives near dams. Several officers argued that police dive teams should be exempt from diving regulations when they are doing an emergency rescue. Investigators argued that the rules do not distinguish between emergency dives and commercial dives because "the hazards facing divers is the same no matter what their purpose." Police officer in charge of operation said that if it had been a missing adult, the search would probably not have gone ahead at that time, 'but with a child.........'
  44. 1974 6 12 Doigne Colin Australia Yarra Harbour Trust 9 S/S Air Aged 37, former Royal Navy Diver, One of a team of three divers undertaking routine maintenance to beacon marking the entrance to the mouth of the Yarra River, choppy water, his air hose got entangled with his support vessel propeller. Reported as dead before he could be recovered to the surface. Survived by his wife and two daughters aged 12 years and 4 months. The Age.
  45. 1972 10 25 Collett Clive New Zealand Divers fron Proctor Reclaim, NZ on contract to United Salvage Company of Melbourne Killed during diving operations cutting up the wreck of the ferry “Wahine� (Sank at the entrance to Wellington Harboure April 10 1968 by Cyclone 'Giselle' with the loss of 53 people), in an underwater explosion. � The Wahine was lying in the middle of Wellington Harbour and the Harbour Board ordered her removal. The original idea was that she would be pumped full of polyutherane foam and refloated intact. However during another storm on May 8th, 1969, the hull was broken into three pieces. The Salvage company decided then to break the wreck into 30-80 ton segments, which would then be lifted and carried ashore by the floating crane Hikitia. Most of the metal was sent to scrap mills in Auckland to be melted down in steel reinforcing for buildings. All the timber, plastic, fittings and furniture were disposed of at the Wellington rubbish dump. During the salvage, Mr Clive Collett was killed in an explosion while diving� PC
  46. 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.
  47. 1973 6 18 Link Clayton USA Johnson-Sea Link 107 Submarine Aged 31, son of the mini submarine's inventor, Edwin Link. Trapped on the wreck of a sunken destroyer, the two men in the rear compartment (Link and Stover) died (asphyxiation), two in the forward compartment survived
  48. 1976 1 17 Ellis Clay UK Comex 73 Saturation American, aged 20. PSV "Smit Lloyd 112", buoyant bell with the bell weights suspended underneath bell, this allowed the bell to sit on the seabed minimising the action of swell. Apparently the bell was moved and in the process the bell weights were ripped off. Bell bottom door open, uncontrolled ascent, pulmonary barotrauma. Died. His bell partner (Derek Bannister) survived, but was very severely injured
  49. 1985 1 8 Berlendis Claudio UK Saturation 31 year old Italian electrician from Bergamo working on the hyperbaric lifeboat of the DSV Wilchief (Sat system was built by Drass, Italy) in Aberdeen harbour killed in an explosion. Cause reported as build up of hydrogen and oxygen from the batteries in a non-ventilated compartment ignited by a electrical switch. The Glasgow Herald
  50. 1977 10 14 Cailleux Claude Netherlands 26 French diver, died of chest injuries from HP gas release when opening up subsea valve, reported as "25mm @ 7MPa"? Press reported a gas leak from a pipeline 8 miles from the broken pipeline valve after the accident that killed a French diver. Straits Times
  51. 1960 1 9 Shaw Clarence USA Merritt Chapman and Scott S/S Air Aged 53, working on the downstream side of the Priest Rapids dam construction site on the Columbia River. Confused reports, but appears to have been trapped underwater for two hours by a falling object. When pulled to the surface by two rescue SCUBA divers his helmet was off, drowned. Falling object may have severed or blocked his air line. Reported in the Freelance Star
  52. 2005 6 3 Cardenas Jr Ciro USA 4 SCUBA Drowned in a drainage pipe, no lifeline or standby diver, scuba gear minus straps, he was holding or dragging his air tank along the 36-inch-wide drainage pipe when he drowned.
  53. 1924 7 3 Smith Cilord USA Military S/S Air US Navy training dive a North Island torpedo base (California? TC), reported as “Hauled up, cause of death strangulation, Navy Board to Review�
  54. 1974 8 23 Tay Chwee Kiat Singapore Diver on a fishing vessel dived to retrieve the vessel's anchor at about 3 pm. Having freed it and surfaced he complained of stomach pains and at about 8 pm on the same day, died. Straits Times
  55. 1935 11 6 Mukai Chukuro Australia V. R. Kepert (Darwin) S/S Air Japanese pearl diver, aged 39, became paralysed underwater and died later. No details, but reported as the 7th diver that season to have died, the majority of paralysis, one from a bite from a coral snake. Aged about 39, diving from the lugger 'Winifred', on the Bathurst Island pearl beds, "Died, it is supposed, from paralysis caused by pressure'. 'Complained of pain in his left arm. For more than 14 hours he was brought to the surface by stages, but he died in the evening"Reported in the Canberra. Times et al
  56. 2007 8 7 Primeau Christopher N USA Associated Underwater Services, Spokane 40 S/S Air American aged 35. Cherry Point Refinery, Bellingham (North of Puget sound). Sheriff's report "Primeau was checking for rocks/underwater cables, his job was to signal when 24-foot-tall steel pilings weighing up to nine tons could be lowered into the water, when crews could start driving the pilings and when they should stop once they'd been driven in to the appropriate depth. Depth about 140 feet, he signalled for crews to begin driving a piling, within 13 seconds, Primeau screamed, "All stop! All stop!" Camera and light on his helmet went dead, no comms. Hammer may have disconnected causing the piling to fall over. OSHA fines of $21,650.
  57. 2012 8 10 Martin Christopher USA SCUBA Aged 24, hired by Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando to retrieve golf balls. Two divers, but working solo in different locations. The other diver saw the diving tank floating on the surface but neither he or the Orange County Dive Team could locate the body. Body recovered late evening the day after. Presumbed drowned but no other details. Orlando Sentinel
  58. 2010 4 24 Sims Christopher USA Louisiana Oilfield Divers Topsides Aged 39 from Florida, returned onshore due to bad weather, went for a motorcycle ride, crashed off the road into a bayou, body found a day later after reported as missing. Reported as accidental drowning, not wearing a helmet. Houma Today. In March 2011 it was reported in the Louisiana Record that:- The family of a deceased seaman has filed a lawsuit against the man's employer for allegedly allowing him to drive a motorcycle while heavily intoxicated. “He was employed as a seaman, commercial diver and crewmember. When the vessel was ordered to return to shore because of inclement weather, he, along with his co-workers, were taken to the home of a Louisiana oilfield diver's supervisor where they were to remain on call and "on the clock" for further instructions'. The lawsuit claims that the diver's supervisors served their employees alcoholic beverages while waiting to return offshore. A supervisor allegedly supplied him with the keys to a motorcycle despite knowing that he had been drinking heavily. The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to properly plan for the evacuation, bunking and quartering the crew, providing alcoholic beverages to its crew, allowing and providing him with the keys to a motorcycle knowing that he had been drinking and failing to provide him with a safe and nonhazardous workplace�
  59. 2009 6 24 Logan Christopher USA 2 S/S Air American, aged 27, hired by Las Colinas Country Club to retrieve lost golf balls Employees at the club noticed that one of the men employed by the company contracted to recover the balls had not returned by closing time at 8 p.m, So someone went to look for him. Near the eighteenth green, an employee saw Logan’s breathing apparatus floating in the water and noticed that the pump that supplies the air was not running. The Irving Fire Department responded and found the diver's body submerged in the water. The Dallas County medical examiner’s office has ruled the death an accident due to drowning and the toxic effects of carbon monoxide. Wife and three year old son. Was SCUBA certified , took the part time job with a friend's golf ball retrieval business because his employer had cut his hours.
  60. 2009 5 4 Wilson Christopher USA Veolia 63 Saturation American, aged 38, Vermillion area, Stingray pipeline, DSV Kingfisher, floating a pipeline 10 miles south of Sabine pass, oversized air bag, no hold back, inverter line tied to inadequate weight, failed air bag rigging, dragged from depth to 22 metres.
  61. 2008 6 20 Johnstone Christopher UK RN 6 SCUBA British RN reservist, aged 42, UK Navy diver training establishment, Horsea island, fell ill during training dive (casualty recovery drill). Initial reports indicated natural causes (heart attack) but at the inquest a pathologist who specialises in diving accidents said the immediate cause of death was a rupture in the lungs, due to failure to breathe out on the ascend to the surface. “He perhaps didn't breathe the gas out at the time. That's the only possible explanation�.
  62. 2004 4 11 Kneen Christopher UAE SCUBA International SCUBA British, aged 19, sucked into a pipe, desalination plant at Fujairah, UAE. Sports/tourist SCUBA diver doing a commercial dive, diving instructor who sent him to the plant was found guilty of causing death, plant operators were not held responsible for not turning off the pump that sucked him in.
  63. 1991 12 17 Leager Christopher USA 5 S/S Air Aged 23, working an oyster bed in Chesapeake bay, one and a half miles off Kent Point, pronounced dead at the Anne Arundel Medical Centre. No details. The Washington Post
  64. 1962 12 3 Whittaker Christopher USA 305 Saturation Aged 19, safety diver, record deep dive with Hans Keller, experimental dive to test new breathing mixture, Peter Small died in the bell (reported as 'bends' which he had suffered from in a previous dive, two days earlier),, Christopher Whittaker disappeared whilst checking the bell externally at depth and was never found. Keller survived after a safety diver removed a fin jammed in the bell hatch allowing it to seal. Reported by multiple sources.
  65. 2008 7 24 Fournier Christophe France Hydrokarst S/S Air French, aged 39, Marseilles port, cutting up a sunken boat, underwater oxy/arc explosion
  66. 2003 10 22 Watson Christina Mae Australia SCUBA American, aged 26, on her honeymoon, dive on the SS Yongala, off Queensland. Allegedly murdered (Turned her air off) by her husband, David Gabriel Watson, In June 2009, he was convicted of manslaughter in a Queensland court over the death of his wife who died while diving in his company on the Great Barrier Reef in October 2003. Tina Watson died after being seen, by other divers in the area, in a close underwater embrace with her husband. She sank to the seabed while he headed for the surface, having failed to attempt a buoyant lift, to inflate his wife’s BC independently, or dump her weight belt Tina Watson’s inert body was captured unwittingly on the sandy bottom by another diver taking underwater photographs. It was suspected that Watson had deliberately restricted his wife while turning off her air supply, and upon her loss of consciousness turned it on again before letting go of her. The motive was suspected to be an attempt to cash in on her life insurance policy. Watson’s story was that he had tried to help his wife when she experienced difficulty in breathing, had a panic attack and knocked out his regulator, and that he had elected to go to the surface in search of outside help. While his wife was an inexperienced diver, Watson was experienced and held a rescue-diver qualification. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail in Australia, to be suspended after 12 months. The lightness of the sentence caused an outcry, particularly since the manslaughter conviction came after a coroner’s report stating that there was a good case to charge Watson with murder. After appeal, the sentence it was ruled that Watson should serve 18 months rather than 12 in jail, extradited to Alabama in 2010 facing further legal action in the American courts
  67. 2002 12 16 Arnold Christian UAE CCC Topsides Aged 29, fell from the 12th floor of the International Hotel in Abu Dhabi three days after arrriving in the Middle East. A fire gutted four rooms and set off the fire alarms at 03:00, smoke came under the door of the room he was sharing with a colleague who tried to calm him down (He had a phobia about being trapped by fire), but he jumped from the balconey. A large number of other guests, including 11 other dive team members, were treated for smoke inhalation. The Sun
  68. 1891 12 1 Smith Christian Australia Neil Anderson Topsides "Two divers (double fatality with Peter Rasmossan) were drowned at the pearl fishing grounds near Nadoo Island last Tuesday. "The Dingy in which they left the lugger was subsequently found at sea, bottom upwards".The Advertiser, Adelaide.
  69. 2012 9 18 Lemons Chris UK Bibby 91 Saturation DPII DSV Bibby Topaz, built 2008, Kongsberg DP system, diving on the Huntington Field template, at 22:09 RBUS DP alarm activated, 22:11 loss of DP control, divers relocated to top of template, vessel starts to drift off, 22:12 Diver 1 pulled off template by tight umbilical, diver 2 umbilical snagged and parted, 22:17 vessel 240 metres East of template, manual control established, diver 2 beacon at template, 22:34, vessel back on auto DP, 22:40 vessel back at template, diver 1 left stage, bell 18 metres from template, 22:46 diver 2 recovered to bell, unconscious, 23:04 diver 2 conscious, 22:13, BLB, 23:39 BLO. Diver 2 on bailout with planned duration of 10 minutes for between 28 and 34 minutes. Survival believed to have been due to rebreather type bailout, high ppO2 in bailout mix, probably rapid onset of hypothermia/reduced breathing rate. Diver made a full recovery. DP fault not identified/publicised, investigation ongoing. Reported in the Press and Journal, Times etc
  70. 2010 7 2 Hollifield Chris USA Veolia 76 Saturation Aged 33, former US Marine, Post 'Katrina' remedial works off the 'Normand Clipper', possible u/w oxy/arc diving explosion. Standby diver was deployed and located diver unresponsive on the seabed, did not respond to treatment. No details. Survived by wife and unborn son. Personal communication
  71. 2008 1 0 Johnson Chris USA Veolia Oxy/Arc explosion Injury, no details. Offshorediver.com
  72. 2006 11 23 Johnson Chris USA Veolia 9 S/S Air MMS report dated 31 Jan 2006 (typo?) published 4/4/2007 (See 2006 GOM MMS.doc) Block ST 300 (South Timbalier platform), at 19:50 hours, Underwater Oxy Arc explosion, knocked unconscious, facial lacerations, chipped tooth, sore ribs. Evacuated to Terrebone General Medical Centre, stabilised, kept in overnight, released 10:50 hours 26/11/2006. "Will be out of work for three weeks" 'No violation" (MMS report) but diving medical revoked, may not ever dive commercially again (OD).
  73. 2002 7 6 Mouritson Chris USA Caldive 32 S/S Air 34 year old with 12 years experience from the DSV 'Mr Fred' at Eugene Island 273, BP, KM 17B, helmet flooded, drowned but unclear if he ditched it, poorly maintained hat with valve issues (see IMCA SF 01/03).
  74. 1999 8 6 Hill Chris UK Stolt Comex Seaway 117 Saturation British, aged 42, Buchan template, DSV "Discovery", oxy arc explosion. HSE prosecution, fined £60,000. (See IMCA SF 07/01).
  75. 1991 5 18 Worthington Chris USA Aged 22, Killed while preforming a wheel job when the engines were started and engaged. Body recovered
  76. 1965 0 0 Burgill Chris Middle East Taylor Diving? Died in the Persian Gulf when his umbilical snagged on the ladder as he jumped off the barge' OD
  77. 1930 4 21 Christopher Chris USA 5 S/S Air From Brooksville, working on the salvage of the luxury steam yatch "Zalophus" (125' steam yatch owned by entrepeneur - land developer - John Ringling en route to Useppa Island's famous 'Collier inn', sank in 12' of water on the night of 4th February 1930 after a collision with an unidentified object punched a hole in the hull. John Ringling was in New York on business and it was unclear at the time just who might have been onboard, Reports in 1958 claimed that then Mayor of New York city, Jimmy Walker - aged 49 and married - was onboard with his 'friend' Betty Compton - A showgirl aged 23). The judge, Arthur R. Clark, who examined the diver's remains decided an inquest was not necessary and that death resulted from natural causes. According to witnesses, the diver had gone down to just 16' when he gave the signal to pull him up. "He was not in the water more than three minutes on the dive. As he stepped on the ladder leading from the water to a floating dock he collapsed. He was dead when fellow workers removed his helmet and sent for authorities. It was stated that the diver had been in impaired health fot the previous two or three weeks suffering from bronchial trouble but had continued to work in his efforts to complete his contract. Operations to raise the yatch were to have been started within a few days. None of the offoicials inquirig into the affair, or employees of Ringling professed to know the diver's name until a press club man supplied it together with the information that he was between 60 and 65 years old, married and had several children. A doctor declared a hemorrhage caused death, undertakers took the body to Brooksville for interment. Searasota Herald-Tribune
  78. 2018 5 5 Seet Choon Heng (Jake) Singapore Mola Subsea Services SS/Air The body of 33-year-old Jake Seet Choon Heng, who went missing off the waters of Sentosa on Saturday (5 May), has been found. The police were alerted to a body found floating in the sea off Sentosa at 6.36pm on Monday. The body was that of a 33-year-old man who was reported missing on Saturday. The police are investigating the unnatural death. Seet, a 33-year-old commercial diver, went missing while conducting underwater operations for the vessel Jork at the Western Anchorage near Sentosa on Saturday. He is understood to be employed by Mola Subsea Services, which provides commercial diving services for vessels at major ports and anchorages within Singapore. On Monday, his sister Jacqueline Seet made an urgent appeal for “all parties to do their utmost” to bring her brother home. In a media statement, she added that neither the authorities nor her brother’s employer had promptly informed their family about his disappearance. Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to Seet’s employer for comments. Jake Seet leaves behind two sons aged six and three. According to his sister, his wife is due to give birth to their third child, a daughter, next month. Jasper Lei, 35, associate marketing director at Propnex Realty and a former colleague of Seet’s, described him as a “very fit and experienced diver” with more than 10 years of experience. While Lei expressed deep “shock” over Seet’s passing, the former commercial diver also noted that safety on the job could be compromised at times, due to the urgency of the task at hand and “limited manpower issues”. Lei and a friend started raising funds for Seet’s family on Monday night and have collected about $3,200 so far. “Jake came from a humble family, his wife is definitely devastated by the loss,” Lei added. “With two kids plus an unborn child, the future is really challenging for them.” This story was updated to include quotes from Jasper Lei and other information. Taken from Singapore News: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/body-missing-singaporean-diver-jake-seet-found-off-sentosa-024851489.html
  79. 2001 6 22 Kin Chong Chee Singapore Aged 28, described as a 'seasoned diver', found floating face down during a tanker inspection dive off Tuas. Straits Times
  80. 1949 6 4 Huerta Chief Machinist's Mate Ignacio L. USA Military 150 Chamber Aged 28, described as a veteran Navy diver with the diving experimental unit at the Naval Gun Factory in Washington DC., Blown down to a pressure equivalent to 490' in a wet pot, reported dizzy and was brought out. He recovered and returned to the chamber, but passed out. Water had got inside his breathing circuit/helmet and got into contact with his air purifier, and he had "burns about the neck". Treated at Bethesda Naval Hospital but died. "Officers said the lye burns caused death" (Sodium Hydroxide/caustic soda, burns to the throat). The Milwaukee Journal.
  81. 1898 4 8 Johnson Chief Gunner's Mate USA Military S/S Air Hull inspection dive under the gunboat “Newport�. Reported as “The only exciting incident here today was of a tragic character� “met with sudden death from asphyxiation, exact cause unknown, but it is thought the air pipe became entangled in some way. As he gave no signals he was drawn up, when he was found to be dead�.
  82. 2012 10 15 Krishnan Chief Articifer Harish India Navy Topsides Aged 32, from Alappuzha, Indian Navy diver onboard a four seater Chetak helicopter on a routine transit flight from Mumbai to Bangalore, landing to refuel at Dabolim airport (INS 'Hansa' naval air base) in Goa. Witnesses said a rotor came off as it was landing at 09:51, the helicopter crashed bursting into flames killing all three (Navy pilot, co-pilot and diver). "The wreckage was cleared before 1 pm avoiding inconvenience to flights" OneIndia News
  83. 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.
  84. 2013 6 21 Sujan Singh Chauhan UAE Mutawa Marine 17 S/S Air Indian. Aged 53. SRP/zodiac dive at dive at Das Island. During dive stopped responding to communications, floated to the surface just as the stand-by was going in, given CPR but failed to respond to treatment. Initial hospital reports indicate a heart attack.
  85. 1997 3 18 Mestaz Charlie "JR" USA Yakima Fire Department SCUBA American, aged 37. One of a two man (Hauber) fire team trying to rescue two divers (Rhode/Eberle) from a 2210 long, 13 foot diameter irrigation tunnel, their lights were seen returning to the entrance but they failed to surface, they were pulled out by two stand-by divers. They had run out of air, died in hospital three days later. Qudruple fatality (Rhode, Eberle, Hauber)
  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. 1977 0 0 Beckham Charles Hiram USA Ocean Systems S/S Air Diving supervisor (Had also been a diving supervisor on the 'Gettysburg' in Asia in 1975/76), diving under a barge in heavy gear, believed to have been in a 'blow up' on the far side of the barge. Details needed. OK Dude/Longstreath
  88. 2016 6 7 Hill Charles A USA 3m SCUBA Aged 63, Diving with his son for golf balls at the Dogwood Hills Golf Course, Waverly, Ohio, body recovered 50 feet from shore in about 8 feet of water. Reported in the NYPost
  89. 0 0 0 Hansen Charles 'Big Charlie' USA Article in Time Magazine dated October 1934 referring to an attempted gold salvage operation HMS 'Hussar', sank 23rd November 1780 off New York in the East River near treacherous Hell Gate, rumoured to be carrying gold. Robert Roy Hansen dived from the Tug 'Terminal' using an armoured diving suit - "Eleanor" - invented by salvage company president, Thomas P. Connolly, & Weighing 675 Ib. on deck, the suit has a head and body of steel, with grotesque protuberances for eyes and something that looks like a nose. Of rubber reinforced by interwoven copper strips, the arms and legs become flexible when subjected to high underwater pressure. The two parts of the suit join at the waist instead of around the neck. The diver goes down without an airhose, carries an oxygen bottle, a respirator, caustic soda to absorb carbon dioxide. The tall, gangling, muscular man who went down encased in ''Eleanor" is a crack deep-sea diver named Roy Robert Hansen. He worked on the S-51 and S-4 jobs when those U. S. submarines went to the bottom (TIME, Oct. 5, 1925; Dec. 26, 1927). His father, a diver called "Big Charley," was killed working in the Great Lakes, and "Big Charley's" father also lost his life diving. The Terminal's procedure was to pay out 2,000 ft. of cable with Hansen in "Eleanor" at the end, then drag him along against the swirling tide. Though the depth was never more than 112 ft., Hansen thought it the nastiest job of his career, said he was bumped against rocks and whirled around until he was groggy. By week's end he had encountered six drowned hulks, identified none as the Hussar. But Diver Hansen appraised as practically nil the chances of the rival salvage vessel 'Josephine'. Wearing ordinary diving-suits, the Josephine's divers worked only during slack tide, 20 min. twice a day. Reported in Time Magazine
  90. 2009 9 16 Heastie Charles Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force Surface Swimmer Paraphrased from press reports: “A 21 year old Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine is clinging to life in a coma after nearly drowning during a training exercise at the community pools in South Beach. The male marine seaman was swimming laps in one of the pools during a scuba diving lesson along with several fellow officers. As his colleagues surfaced at one end of the pool, someone noticed that the marine was motionless at the bottom. His colleagues pulled him out and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. "It was a dive course. They were taking scuba diving lessons at the Betty Kelly Kenning pools and they were doing breathing exercises, breath holding and snorkel clearing. "When (the other officers) got to the other end, someone shouted out to them that one of their divers was underwater and that's when they got him surfaced and administered CPR until the ambulance arrived," It is unclear if the marine - who has been on the Force for less than five years - had any pre-existing health issues but like all his colleagues, would have taken part in an annual physical last January. A brief press release issued by the Force said the marine was admitted to Doctor's Hospital "following a diving exercise" at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The statement added that the marine was in critical, but stable condition. Reported in the Tribune.
  91. 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
  92. 1927 5 4 Madden Charles Australia S/S Air “DIVER COLLAPSES. When he was being brought to the surface after working on a pile cylinder under water at the George's River bridge yesterday afternoon Charles Madden, aged 30, collapsed. The St George District Ambulance was called and first aid rendered. It was found necessary, however, to take the man to the St. George District Hospital. He was suffering from diver's palsy�. Reported in The Sydney Morning Herald.
  93. 1915 8 2 Carpenter Charles USA S/S Air Highland Park, Pittsburgh, working in a 51� diameter pipe connecting two reservoirs, a cable snapped and an iron gate dropped behind him. After an hour and no response to signals, a second diver investigated, found the gate shut and worked to raise it. This was achieved some 5 hours after he first entered the water. Reported that he had only died minutes before being rescued. Rescue attempt was witnessed by a large crowd, including his wife and sister. Milwaukee Sentinel.
  94. 1905 1 21 Leach Charles UK S/S Air Described as a 'Shipwright diver', descended to clear potential obstructions prior to placing a caisson next to No 2 Devonport dock gates. His life line snapped, they tried pulling him up by his airline - which snapped. Second diver could not descend as his helmet would not screw down correctly, they found him another helmet but lost 25 minutes. A third diver also descended from the opposite side of the dock to aid in the search. Downed. Married with three children.. Feilding Star, Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand
  95. 1903 8 1 Gunderson Charles USA S/S Air American, repairing a Boat, Reported as “Dashed to River's Bottom. HELMET IS BENT ON HIS HEAD. Accident While Repairing Propeller of the Disabled Eastland. Engines Are Started Up. Hard to Remove Helmet�. Reported in the Chicago Daily Tribune
  96. 1887 8 1 McGhee Charles UK S/S Air "A diver suffocated. While a marine diver named Mchee was working at the wreck of a sunken yatch - the Cyrene - off Greenock this morning, the air...", "A diver drowned, the air pipe broke, and insensible when brought to the surface, dying…." "While Charles McGhee was engaged in passing chains round a sunken wreck off Greenock this morning, the air..." (The yatch was in a collision with another yatch - the Lorelei - against whom they were racing in the Firth of Clyde on the 9th of July 1887) No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegaph/Shields Daily Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  97. 1868 9 9 Burton Charles New Zealand 27 S/S Air Diving from the SS 'Lady Bird' assessing the wreck of the SS 'Taraniki'. Apparently entangled and Helmet came off, drowned. Excellent contemporary article of the fatality in the Wellington Independent and description of the subsequent salvage operation in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961. The inquest (described in some detail in the Wellington Independent) 'was held at the Crown and Anchor Hotel before L. Boor Esq., Coroner, and a respectable jury', after mature deliberation, they gave the verdict "Accidental death by drowning whilst in performance of his duties as a diver at the wreck of the Taranki". After being submerged for over a year, she was refoated being towed into Wellington harbour by the 'Ladybird' on the first of October 1889. She finally ran aground and broke in half in November 1878 on Karewa Island with no loss of life
  98. 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"
  99. 1970 6 21 Wojcik, RAN CD Bogdan Kazimierz Vietnam Military In May 1966 Clearance Diving Team 1 spent a short period in Vietnam working with US Navy Divers. Clearance Diving Team 3 was deployed from February 1967 until May 1971 for clearing rivers and shipping channels of mines and booby traps. The team also carried out salvage work and trawler searches to protect and secure South Vietnamese ports from sabotage. Over this period there were 7573 ship searches, 153 major diving tasks, 78 explosive devices removed from ships, 352 tons heavy ordnance destroyed, 42,000 items of unsafe ammunition destroyed, 68 special operations including canal barricades, search and destroy missions plus reconnaissance and ambush missions in three fire zones. Casualties were one clearance diver killed and one clearance diver wounded on active service.
  100. 2008 11 14 Cordoba Cayetano Mexico Potable Water Inspection (Canadian contractor) Aged 43, one of two divers (With Manolo Diaz) who went into the three metre diameter Cutzamala fresh water pipeline system, suffocated and swept away by the water. Bodies (and those of the two resuce divers) recovered two days later. "There was no intentional homicide in the death of the divers who technically died of lack of breathable air" - they entered the confined space without using diving gear. Quadruple fatality. El Siglo de Torreon.com.mx
  101. 2008 6 9 Plaian Catalin Romania Military Paraphrased from reports:- “A military diver aged 36 died on Monday morning at Constanta County Emergency Hospital. Fleet Command in Constanta said they could not yet provide details of the circumstances in which he was injured. He said that he was in training at sea and the ship returned to port. The injured diver brought to shore and taken by ambulance to Hospital but could not be saved. Doctors said the diver has died after a cardio-respiratory arrest and that he had a severe acute head trauma. 

Health professionals say that the first information received shows that the diver was submerged in water and was injured in collision between two boats. Reported in Realitatea.net. Alternate press reports:- “Divers torn to pieces by a propeller. A military diver aged 36 died and three others were injured yesterday morning during a training exercise at sea outside the port of Constanta. It seems that the tragedy took place after an inflatable boat did not respond to commands and simply passed over a similar one, in which there were many divers. He was married, had a 2 year old daughter and had served under the banner of the Romanian Navy for almost 10 years�. Reported by Libertatea Romania.
  102. 2011 7 19 Banaga Carlos Lucero Mexico Baja Acuafarm Aged 42, decompression incident onboard the vessel Buenaventura II 25 miles off the island of Coronado, evacuated by helicopter to the Ensenada Naval hyperbaric centre, successfully treated and discharged. Mexican Press
  103. 2008 12 2 Sanchez Carlos Julio Ecuador Paraphrased from press reports:- “Aged 28, Diver died in a sewer in the town Manta, Manabi, trapped in a sewage pipe and was overcome by fumes. 
The victim spent more than seven hours inside a manhole until his body was rescued by personnel from the National Police, the Fire Department and Civil Defense, which initially had to use hydraulic drill, and then a bulldozer to dig down to the pipe where the diver was trapped. The head of the Fire Department said that apparently when the diver was in the culvert and pulled out what prevented the passage of water "We believe the current pushed him, prompting him to lose control and stay in a sitting position Four divers entered the pipeline, but all effort was in vain. Eldiario.ec
  104. 2011 2 19 Coliboro Carlos Isaias Melipillan Chile Aged 50, Shellfish diver onboard the 'Nortwester Matricula' working in the Falcon Estuary (36 hours sailing time from Puerta Natales). Expired certificates, no permit to be at sea, autopsy indicated that he suffocated after vomiting underwater. Reported in El Pinguino.
  105. 2012 1 9 Silva Carlos Portugal 20 SCUBA Aged 60, Isle of Madeira, near Ribeira Brava. Aquaculture (Fish farming) operation, appears to have been a two man diving team working on a holding cage at a depth of 10 to 20 metres but water depth was 60 metres, no topsides crew, supervisor or DDC. An alternate report suggests the diver may have dived to 60 metres to recover a dropped diving cylinder. Disappeared, body not recovered, search called off after 8 days. Married, two children. forum-mergulho.com
  106. 2008 5 23 Garcia Pol Carlos Spain Tinsa SA 30 S/S Air Aged 33, from Madrid, one of two diving supervisors in a 6 man team working on the dam on the river Agueda 5 km South of Cuidad Rodrigo (Salamanca, Western Spain) since February (4 months) on contract to OSEPSA - Obras y Servicios Publicos Sociedad Anonima - for CHD - Hydrographic Confederation of the river Duero . Ten minutes into a dive dredging with an airlift at 09:30, reported as stopped talking to topsides, stand-by diver located the diver at depth, unconcious, recovered to surface but failed to respond to CPR treatment. Band mask pulled off, drowned. Reported in Terra Noticias, plus PC
  107. 2008 0 0 Pol Carlos Spain 60 S/S Air ack hammer. He was on air as his breathing gas (at 60 m).  Due to the nature of the operation, the visibility was badly disturbed and to counteract this, the company had requested that the diver place a 10�-12� diameter flexi hose airlift in close proximity to his working position, to clear away suspended particles. This was secured by the diver using rope and was made hot at the surface.  There was no information as to whether the diver had a flow control valve at his side?  At some point the securing knot became detached, which caused the hose to drift out of position, coming into contact with the back of the divers head as he worked. The intense suction caused his band-mask to become dislodged and also trapped him at the base of the airlift, resulting in him drowning. Apparently several days prior to this particular incident there was a similar situation where the hose had dislodged and had trapped the working divers arm.  On that occasion topside managed to switch off the airlift and the diver managed to free himself - though he did require hospital treatment to his badly damaged arm. Furthers details may be coming. PC
  108. 1966 3 23 Brashear, USN Carl Maxie Spain Military Topsides First coloured US Navy ship's diver, (Oct 1954) lost left leg from knee down in a deck accident off Spain during search for lost Atomic bomb, returned to diving, retired 1979, died 25/07/2006
  109. 2009 5 24 Spencer Carl Greece 120 Rebreather British, aged 37. National Geographic Expedition filming the wreck of the 'Britannic' (Sister vessel to the 'Titanic'). British Hospital ship sank by a mine in 1916 with the loss of 30 lives off the Greek island of Kea. Reported to have surfaced rapidly, unconscious, flown by military super puma to Athens Naval Hospital, but did not respond to treatment
  110. 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
  111. 1996 1 0 Palin Carl UAE 18 S/S Air Apparently surfaced normally but lost consciousness, into zodiac, transferred to DDC (13 minute surface interval), at 60' no response, down to 165', partially regained consciousness, behavioural issues, sedated with valium, doctor locked in, gradual decompression, mated to a sat system two days later at 60', cardiac arrest, resuscitated but no brain stem, activity then suffered another cardiac arrest.
  112. 1992 0 0 Palin Carl UAE CCC 0 Died in the DDC (Brain aneurysm)
  113. 1990 11 1 Miles Carl USA Undersea Systems Inc Aged 34, one of a three man team conducting 'routine maintenance' on the screens at the New Johnsonville power plant (Part of the Tennessee Valley power Authority) near Waverly. They drained the water intake tunnel to recover the body. No details but inference is compromised screen, SCUBA, no lifeline, pumps running, sucked in)
  114. 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
  115. 1921 12 20 Torrance Captain william UK S/S Air "Diver drowned. Through air pipe becoming severed, William Torrance, diver, lost his life while…" "Weymouth diver's tragic end. Asphyxiated underwater through air pipe bursting. Weymouth, Wednesday. Verdict of death by asphyxiation was returned today.." "Diver suffocated. Fatal accident in Portland Harbour while diving operations were in progress from the tug..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  116. 2006 12 3 English Captain Shawn Iraq US Army Topsides Aged 35, killed by a roadside bomb. Bbased in Panama City Beach, Florida, where he lived with his wife and three sons. An Army diver who had been stationed in Iraq helping to train Iraqi Army officers
  117. 1956 8 13 Lund Captain Ove Norway Military Aged 32, Norwegian Navy diver, died in Horten harbour, Oslo. 'in the line of duty' though the authorities branded reports that he died diving under the hulls of visiting soviet fleet vessels as "Sheer madness". His death was announced shortly after the departure of a Russian cruiser and two destroyers. The announcement co-incided with reports that an unidentified submarine was follwing the Russian flotilla. Pittsburgh Press
  118. 2010 12 8 Lightfoot, US Army Captain Juan E USA US Army SCUBA Capt. Juan E. Lightfoot, 34, died at Womack Army Medical Center four days after an accident during pre-SCUBA training. The former Marine who had arrived at the battalion in November, commanded a Special Forces detachment of Fort Bragg's 7th Special Forces Group. As the incident was under investigation, no details were available, including the place or nature of the accident and whether it took place in the water, said a spokesman for 7th Group. The training was intended to prepare soldiers to attend the Combat Divers Qualification Course held at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West, part of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg. Reported in the Fay Observer.
  119. 1893 4 9 Christianson Captain John USA 60 S/S Air Elliot Bay, Seattle, “He plunged into the waters of Elliot Bay and after 20 minutes returned with the lead line and a bucket from one of the hatches of the tug “Majestic� lying at a depth of 196 feet. He apparently suffered no great inconvenience�
  120. 1940 10 10 Christian Captain George Parking Australia S/S Air Died on Norfolk Island (Australia territory, Polynesia) at the age of 86. He was the great-grandson of Fletcher Christian, leader of the Bounty mutineers (1789), and himself one of the migrants from Pitcairn Island to Norfolk Island in 1856. His mother was a descendant of John Adams, one of the leaders of the colony of mutineers. Captain Christian went to sea at the age of 17, when he joined an American Whaler sailing to Massachusetts. He rose rapidly to officer’s rank and for 25 years his calling took him to places as far distant as the Antarctic and Bering Straits. For five years Captain Christian was engaged as marine diver for the Auckland Harbour Board, and he also undertook pearl diving in the Torres Straits. In the 1870s he served on several sailing ships on the New Zealand coast. The last time Captain Christian went to sea was in 1926, when, at the age 72, he commanded the 70-ton schooner ‘Resolution’, which brought fruit from Norfolk Island to Auckland. He was survived by a daughter. Evening Post, National Library of New Zealand.
  121. 1990 11 15 Bartholomew Captain Al 'Black Bart' USA USN SCUBA Aged 50, director of ocean engineering for the Navy and supervisor of its salvage and diving operations, died during a diving recertification exercise, disappeared from sight in 200 feet of water. His body was recovered Nov. 17, but the cause of death was not been determined.
  122. 2021 8 3 Lazaroo Calvin Patrick Malaysia SCUBA Aged 27, diving with three others to salvage a boat off Sungai Besar, trying to tie a line to it and went missing. Body still with diving gear found floating on surface on the 8th of August about 9km SW of Sungai Besar. Reported in Maysian Press
  123. 1927 11 10 Hawkes C. C. Australia S/S Air “Last week the crack diver of Mr. C. C. Hawkes lost his life when diving for pearl off Gautheaume Point, near Broome, owing to his air pipe becoming fouled with a coral cup. The boat was drifting and the strain on the pipe severed it and the diver was suffocated. It was stated at the inquest, however, that death was expedited owing to the deceased suffering from fatty degeneration of the heart. The fact that a diver was killed in such a manner today led to inquiries being made whether the divers working from the Broome base were using the latest diving equipment, or whether it was perhaps old equipment. It was ascertained from the Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr. Aldrich) that it was to the pearler’s advantage to use the latest equipment for their divers, as these men were very valuable, apart from the protection of life aspect. The owners were equipped with the latest diving equipment both in dress and1 hoses. A new diving dress, however, has been invented by Mr. Y. Murakami, of Broome, but it is understood that it has not yet been manufactured locally. He has been working on the invention for the past four years. The equipment is much reduced in weight, and, being highly rubberised, admits of free movement by the diver when on the sea bottom. The usual helmet is practically done away with, except for a plate carrying the face glass and valves. The boots and shoulder leads are reduced to less than half the weight of the ordinary equipment, whilst the air pipes are considerably smaller. It is hoped eventually to be able to manufacture the whole of the new equipment in Perth. Special compressed air cylinders may be carried on the equipment instead of using the usual air pumping machines and pipes. Reported in the Daily News, Perth, WA.
  124. 1976 11 4 Meeham C V UK KD Marine 0 SCUBA American, aged 24. Semi-sub drilling rig "Ocean Voyager", night dive to connect anchor pennants, surface tending, rough weather (Outside KD policy, being pushed by Company man on rig), lines entangled in pontoon anodes, knocked unconscious? Double fatality (Spensley)
  125. 1977 5 10 Hoffman C H UK IUC 152 Saturation American, aged 22. Venture 1, conflicting reports, had finished dive, acting as bellman, either fell unconscious in the bell and drowned in trunking or fainted and fell through hatch, recovered by diver but he then drowned in trunking, possible pO2 issue? UPDATE: See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_One_diving_accident
  126. 1976 5 13 Dymott C UK SBM Anglesey 37 SCUBA British, aged 26, drowned. 2 divers reported in trouble, located by stand-by(s) on seabed. Dymott with mouthpiece out, dive time listed as 5 hours?
  127. 1897 2 0 Madsen C Australia 48 S/S Air Danish, testing new diving gear (Engine driven air compressor ) from the steamer 'Swansea'. Diver keen to get full working depth of 30 fathoms but only had water depth of 29 fathoms. Attempt aborted when current was too strong, relocated inside harbour where there was a maximum water depth of 26 metres. Reduced air supply pressure from 40 psi to 1o 10 psi and then to 4 psi (on instruction from diver). Sank from sight. After no signals for 15 minutes (Although his attendant said he received signals until 3 minutes before he was recovered), he was hauled up (which took another 8 minutes), Unconscious, took another 5 minutes to get him out of his suit which was found to be a quarter full of water. Onboard doctor attending but did not respond. They concluded that 4 psi was not enough to maintain air flow at 26 fathoms (174') and that water had flooded his suit. Nelson Evening Mail
  128. 1956 10 2 Jacob Bull Hassan Bin Australia 27 S/S Air Malay, aged 26, pearl diving out of Broome, surfaced with paralysis on Saturday, still ill Sunday, lugger made 80 mile dash to Port but he died. 'Third pearl diver dive that year to be killed on the luggers working out of Broome (Konjtoviannis, in May, the other? Unknown, TC)'
  129. 1979 0 0 Krausky Bruno Indonesia Hydrospace Australian, from Cairns, one year out of dive school, diving off the "Wodeco IV" or "Wodeco VII" in the Natuna field, Indonesia, on descent instead of switching to 90/10 Heliox at 40' was switched to pure He. Bubbles blower/Longstreath
  130. 1985 5 4 Hines Bruce USA Mel Fisher American, aged 32, salvage operation for professional treasure hunter Mel Fisher off Johns Island, Florida, moving an anchor off the wreck of the 'Endeavour' pulled from the water 27th April but died several days in Humana Hospital due to complications arising from bronchial pneumonia. No real details, Miami Herald.
  131. 2014 2 7 Porter Bruce New Zealand The Dive Spot 1m SCUBA Report in Maritime New Zealand dated 10 June 2015 “Whangarei diving company and co-director/skipper fined $75,000 after the death of diver. Reparations of $80,000 are also to be paid. The diver died after being struck by a propeller while on a diving trip to the Poor Knights Islands. Maritime New Zealand prosecuted the company and Mr Barnes under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction at work caused harm to any person. The incident occurred after the anchor of the vessel “Pacific Hideaway” became snagged on the third dive of the trip. The diver was asked to dive down to unsnag the anchor, but a crewman on board the vessel then freed the anchor using the winch. The skipper believed Mr Porter understood there was no need to dive, but due to a miscommunication the diver entered the water and was struck by the propeller when the vessel’s engines were put into gear. Maritime New Zealand Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt said the tragic incident was entirely avoidable. The risk from propellers was not included in the vessel’s hazard register, nor was it mentioned in the briefing for divers on the day of the accident. In addition, the company did not have a clear system of communicating with divers about their entry into the water, nor did it have a clear policy that passenger divers were never asked to dive to free anchors. “Propeller strike is one of the key risks for those operating a dive operation and that risk must be managed through effective safety processes,” he said. “The consequences of having divers in the water when propellers are turning can be catastrophic, as they were in this case. Those operating commercial charter dive operations have an absolute responsibility to ensure they are operating safely. "That includes ensuring that recreational divers are fully briefed before they enter the water and that good communication is maintained at all times”
  132. 2014 7 7 Porter Bruce New Zealand The Dive Spot 1m SCUBA Report in Maritime New Zealand dated 10 June 2015 “Whangarei diving company and co-director/skipper fined $75,000 after the death of diver. Reparations of $80,000 are also to be paid. The diver died after being struck by a propeller while on a diving trip to the Poor Knights Islands. Maritime New Zealand prosecuted the company and Mr Barnes under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction at work caused harm to any person. The incident occurred after the anchor of the vessel “Pacific Hideaway” became snagged on the third dive of the trip. The diver was asked to dive down to unsnag the anchor, but a crewman on board the vessel then freed the anchor using the winch. The skipper believed Mr Porter understood there was no need to dive, but due to a miscommunication the diver entered the water and was struck by the propeller when the vessel’s engines were put into gear. Maritime New Zealand Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt said the tragic incident was entirely avoidable. The risk from propellers was not included in the vessel’s hazard register, nor was it mentioned in the briefing for divers on the day of the accident. In addition, the company did not have a clear system of communicating with divers about their entry into the water, nor did it have a clear policy that passenger divers were never asked to dive to free anchors. “Propeller strike is one of the key risks for those operating a dive operation and that risk must be managed through effective safety processes,” he said. “The consequences of having divers in the water when propellers are turning can be catastrophic, as they were in this case. Those operating commercial charter dive operations have an absolute responsibility to ensure they are operating safely. "That includes ensuring that recreational divers are fully briefed before they enter the water and that good communication is maintained at all times”
  133. 1828 0 0 Deane Brothers Charles and John UK Developed their earlier design (1823) 'Smoke Hood" into a diving suit (Helmet not sealed onto dress so if diver inverted his helmet flooded. Was used successfully to salvage canons from the wreck of HMS "Royal George" (Sank in 65' of water at Spithead in 1783) in 1834 and 1835
  134. 2007 2 1 Ernest Brian USA Superior Saturation Diver from Tennessee, DSV "Endeavour", Superior Offshore International LLC, spoolpiece, air bag, uncontrolled lift? diver entangled?
  135. 2000 9 4 Diebolt Brian USA Torch Marine Diver was working offshore but ill (reported as pneumonia, possibly developed from poor air quality, complicated with continual diving), but apparently was not allowed to return to the beach upon several requests from himself and others. Eventually taken onshore , then taken immediately to hospital, and admitted right, died 45 days later from complications. NAOCD/cDiver
  136. 1999 7 15 Pottberg Brian USA Fire Brigade SCUBA Aged 25, Member of Lee's Summit fire department. Described as a routine training exercise in Lakewood lake (Acting as the centre point for a second diver to swim increasing circular search pattern), “On July 15, 1999, one male fire fighter/paramedic/rescue diver (the victim) drowned while taking part in a drill. The victim, one of four rescue divers and a boat driver participating in a training drill, was assigned the "Pivot Diver" position. During the drill, a Safety Diver was to remain at the surface. The Pivot Diver (the victim), was to enter the water, follow the anchor line to the bottom, set up with a 50-foot length of rope, then signal the Pattern Diver (whose duty is to swim in a circular pattern searching for a rescue/recovery target) to descend and proceed with the drill. The crew on the surface observed air bubbles as the victim descended. Approximately 2 minutes later the rope bag surfaced while the bubbles continued. It appeared to the crew on the surface that the victim was searching for the rope bag because the air bubbles appeared to be moving back and forth. The Lead Diver instructed the Pattern Diver to descend and retrieve the victim. The Lead Diver also started to knock on the bottom of the rescue boat with a dive knife in hopes of signaling the victim to return to the surface. When the Pattern Diver surfaced, he reported the victim could not be found. The Lead Diver then instructed the Boat Driver to radio for emergency assistance and implement the department’s Incident Command System (ICS). The Lead Diver also directed the Safety Diver to initiate rescue of the victim. When the Safety Diver surfaced without the victim, the Lead Diver instructed the Safety Diver to assume the role of Pivot Diver. The Lead Diver assumed the role of Pattern Diver. Both the Safety Diver and Lead Diver dove below the surface to initiate a rescue of the victim. The victim was found during the search and brought to the surface approximately 11 minutes after the Boat Driver initially requested emergency assistance. When the victim was brought to the surface, the air regulator was not in his mouth and he was noticeably cyanotic and unresponsive. The victim received immediate medical attention on the Rescue Boat and while en route to a regional trauma center, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The cause of death was listed as drowning. NIOSH report.
  137. 1996 3 4 Pilkington Brian USA 9 S/S Air Contaminated air, drowned Data to add, TC
  138. 1991 8 15 Shepherd Brian South China Sea McDermott 60 Saturation British, aged 44, one of four divers who died when the McDermott DB 29 got caught in typhoon 'Fred' in the South China Sea, POB 195, 22 fatalities. Diver's HRV was the bell, but the barge developed a list and the bell could not be mated to the TUP. Saturation system had been decompressed to around 60' before the barge capsized and sank. As the barge, upside down, sank, the pressure equalised with the TUP, the door was opened and three divers (Steve Hardy, John Lyons and Terry Dennison) swam for the surface but drowned (dragged down by the suction of the barge sinking?). Their bodies were recovered from the sea. Autopsy revealed no signs of decompression illness indicating that although decompression had been accelerated, the high ppO2 had been effective. Cause of death was salt water drowning. The body of Brian Shepherd was recovered from the flooded dive system (still complete, intact and attached to the upturned hull of the barge) by saturation divers some two months later. He was located still wrapped in a hammock slung in what would have been a gas bubble in the capsized system. Autopsy revealed leg injuries leading to speculation that he was injured when the barge capsized and was unable to make the escape attempt with the other three divers. Cause of death – asphyxiation. The barge was never salvaged and still lies upside down under the South China Sea. Telegraph and Argus plus Personal Communication.
  139. 1988 9 23 Bates Brian UK Saturation Post Alpha disaster salvage ops, blow back during cutting ops, cracked helmet, faceplate loosened, both eardrums perforated, sinus damage, concussion, pulled in by bellman, reported as third incident in under 36 hours. The Glasgow Herald
  140. 1980 2 15 Walter Brian Qatar Comex 37 SCUBA Diving untended off Halul Island. Vomited underwater, failed to surface. PC
  141. 2021 7 7 Trahey Brian USA Great Lakes Engineering SCUBA Aged 49, married, two sons. Calkins Bridge dam on the Kalamazoo river/Allegan Lake in Southwest Michigan. Underwater inspection, failed to surface. Body recovered after water levels lowered and dam stopped entirely to prevent current (Suspected differential pressure entrapment). Reported by WXMI-TV. Great Lakes Engineering given maximum fine of £119,000 (No planning, lifeline or comms, repeat offender). Diver's wife was Great Lakes President.... Multiple US news outlets
  142. 1997 5 0 Lewis Brent R GOM American, jetting under a Casino barge (Isle of Capri) in Shreveport, no bailout, hose severed (pulled into pump inlet) ditched hat, drowned
  143. 2008 9 4 Jolly Brendan Australia Oz Reef Connections S/S Air Australian, aged 31. Diving off Arlington Reef off Cairns. Professional aquarium fish collection (Family business) from the "Shearwater II'. No supervision. Compressor failed to kick in. Recovered unconscious by being pulled aboard. Hookah, no harness, airline under weight belt, no bail out. Torn mouthpiece. Solo aquarium diver, no emergency breathing supply, history of epilepsy. Significant undiagnosed cardiac medical condition and history of epilepsy. Fatal arrhythmia. Queensland Workplace Health and Safety.
  144. 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
  145. 2012 4 22 Sprout Brad Robert Mexico Global Diving and Salvage American, aged 29, Working a DP DSV ('Captain Tale'?off Cuidad del Carmen, may have been an umbilical in thruste/lost gas incident, no other details
  146. 1986 5 0 Baranov Boris USSR SCUBA Soldier, Relief force at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, Uktraine, 26th April 1986. During tests reactor 4 went into meltdown causing the most significant release of radiation in history. During the immediate aftermath many workers were subjected to fatal doses of radiation in desperate attempts to mitigate the effects. At one stage, in order to reduce the risk of a steam explosion in the flooded baement area, three volunteers (Valeri Bezpalov, Boris Baranov and Alexei Ananenko) entered the flooded area in diving gear to open the sliuce gates manually. All three returned to the surface after completing the work but died later from radiation sickness. GPS Buceo/Wikipedia
  147. 1983 1 10 Bowes Bob GOM 6 S/S Air Houma, tender making first dive, recovering drill string that had fallen off a barge, hose pinched, no bailout, found under barge, drowned.
  148. 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
  149. 1986 6 16 Hill Billy Ray USA Valley liners and Equipment 12 S/S Air Aged 29, from Tulsa, Okla, died in an explosion during a ship salvage operation. Mississippi River, sunken corn barge, cutting plate with oxy/acetylene, Coastguard quote “possibly a pocket of methane given off by the fermenting corn�. After explosion was found inside the wreck with downline still secured to barge. Possibly drowned when mask separated from helmet.
  150. 1991 11 25 Lillard Billy Ray GOM Cal Dive SMG Age 25, Came off the downline on Waterstop. Died in Chamber on deck. 1) Young Diver First surface Gas Dive 2) Stage was not at first stop when he reached it. It was being lowered. 3) Seas Heavy, surge, and current. 4) There was a serious bend previous to this dive. Source: JC Roat post in Incidents forum
  151. 2005 12 1 O'Conner Billy Ireland SCUBA Irish, aged 51, searching the wreck of the FV “Rising Sun� (Sank 29/11/2005) for the body of Skipper on behalf of his family, after dive, at 6 metre stop, disappeared. Body recovered some days later by Navy/Guarda dive team. Drowned. Reported by RTE news
  152. 2007 9 17 Hedden Bill USA SCUBA Alligator bit off diver's arm
  153. 2000 2 3 Weaver Bill USA SCUBA Paraphrased from the 'State News':- “A veteran commercial diver from Kodiak was killed while trying to clear line from a fishing boat's propeller, according to Kodiak police. Bill Weaver, 54, died when the skipper of the 81-foot trawler Lisa Malinda tried to move the vessel while Weaver was under the boat....�
  154. 1999 7 21 Juse Bill USA Black Dog Divers Died 9 miles inside a tunnel dry diving operation in New Deer sewage outfall, Boston, double fatality (Juse). Both divers died as a result of bad air quality that resulted from extremely poor equipment and equipment not made to be used in a tunnel environment. Over $200,000 in fines for wilful violations. Boston Globe and others
  155. 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
  156. 1969 2 17 Cannon Berry L USA Military 186 Saturation American Navy diver aged 33. Sealab III, CO2 poisoning, Mark IX semi closed rebreather, soda sorb cannister was empty, human error?
  157. 2002 11 5 K Bernhard Austria Lestin, Vienna Diving and Salvage Company S/S Air Aged 24 from Gfohol, one of a four man diving team installing wooden strakes on a water inlet to the Pernegg power plant at the Mur dam run by Austrian Hydro Power, possiobly disoriented in low visibilty, pulled into the inlet, lifeline boke, disappeared. After a large scale search his body was located downstream of the dam. Cause of death may have been a broken neck. News At
  158. 2008 8 7 Perines Bernardo Garcia Chile Pesquara San Jose Aged 37, recovering a capsised boat at a fish farm
  159. 1942 4 18 Hamilton Bernard O USA 6 S/S Air Aged 32, trapped under mud and fallen pilings in Chesapeake Bay for 9 hours, rescued by Navy divers, unhurt except for minor leg injuries.
  160. 1952 11 1 Albert Bernard Australia M & W Scott 24 S/S Air “NATIVE DIES OF DIVER'S PARALYSIS�. BROOME, Thursday. Bernard Albert (26), a native employed by Messrs. M. and W. Scott, pearlers, of Broome, as a second diver, died of paralysis late yesterday afternoon. On Tuesday he and the first diver, an Indonesian named Bernardus Senge, were diving for pearlshell from the lugger ‘Bin Tang Putteh’ off Bard Creek in 13 fathoms of water. Albert had previously worked in only five to six fathoms. At the conclusion of the day he came up, apparently suffering no ill effects, but after midnight it was found that he had diver's paralysis. He was dressed in a diving suit and lowered into the water to the depth he had been working, where he went through the treatment of staging. When raised Albert appeared to have recovered, but later his left leg was paralysed. The lugger at once returned to Broome, where Albert died in hospital. Reported in the West Australian, Perth, WA.
  161. 1948 10 19 Roberts Bernard USA 36 S/S Air Aged 27, Sponge diver, 'Stricken with severe headaches after making a series of dives' on the 11th October, taken to hospital with a cerebral haemorrhage, died 9 days later at Bay Pines veteran's hospital. St Petersburg Times
  162. 1944 1 21 Franklin Bernard UK S/S Air DIVER'S HEROISM. LONDON, Tuesday (A.A.P.). – “A depth charge, which fell from a seaplane in the fairway of a seaplane base was set to explode at a certain depth, and there was grave danger that as the tide rose the depth charge would explode, causing considerable damage to the base and aircraft and nearby ship ping. Bernard Franklin, who though officially a wireman is also a qualified diver, immediately went clown to search for the depth charge, which was located after 45 minutes and hoisted aboard. While he was working, the tide was rising, and any minute he might have been blown up if the charge had detonated. Franklin is awarded the British Empire Medal�. Reported in the Examiner, Launeston, Tas
  163. 1968 11 9 Joost Berend H. USA University of Miami Marine Sciences 50 SCUBA Two divers, Berend Joost, aged 34 of the University of Miami, and John McGinnis, aged 51 of Ocean-Engineering, were installing acoustic recording equipment at the edge of the Gulf stream off Miami when McGinnis noticed that Joost had dropped to the seabed, he went down to help but Joost had a strong grasp on the rope. Joost's mouthpiece dropped out, McGinnis replaced it but had to surface as had run out of air and suffered from decompression illness (treated, believed OK). A third diver, Jim Nangle, aged 23 and also an Ocean-Engineering technician recovered Joost's body to the surface. Reported in the Toledo Blade
  164. 1908 2 9 Clarke Benjamin Ceylon S/S Air Aged 42, From Suffolk in England, arrived in Ceylon late 1907 from Dover with is wife and four year old daughter. In early January burst a blood vessel while working underwater on the Colombo breakwater extension and brought to the surface unconscious. After 10 days was able to walk, but had a relapse and died at the British India Hotel. His wife was in the General Hospital suffering from enteric fever during this time. Straits Times
  165. 1894 4 0 Lynch Ben Australia S/S Air Thursday Island, April 6. "A coloured diver died at Darnley Island last week as a result of diving in deep water". Reported in the South Australian Register, Adelaide, SA.
  166. 2018 4 24 Castagnet Bastien France 5 Aged 28, working at the Mercues power station, run by EDF subsidiary 'Shema', trapped on inlet grill around 11:50 on 24th April 2018, pulled off by rescuers about 13:30, in cardio respiratory arrest, revived by paramedics and taken unconscious to Cahors hospital. No other details. Reported by Medialot. After being in a coma for two and a half years passed away on Saturday 3rd October 2020.
  167. 1945 10 4 Davis Basil USA 9 S/S Air Aged 42, from Chicago, working in the Mississippi River near Burlington (Iowa) laying a pipe along the river for the Municipial Water Company. Signalled to the surface for them to lower the piling hammer, stopped responding to signals at which stage another diver was sent to assist, apparently killed by the pile driver, broken neck, crushed chest. The Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa.
  168. 1975 10 17 Peterson Barry USA SCUBA Aged 21, sports diver, drowned when he was sucked into the 2,600 foot long cooling water inlet pipe of Southern California Edison power plant. An Edison spokesman commented that he could have surfaced safely in the holding tank 'but police stated he probably didn't realise that'. (On the other hand, it is entirely probable he drowned somewhere inside the half mile long pipe? TC) Google News Archive. Edison settled out of court in 1979 ($100,000).
  169. 1945 2 17 Hammerberg B'suns mate 2nd class Owen Francis Patrick USA Military 12 S/S Air US Navy aged 24, post Pearl Harbour Salvage operations, awarded the medal of honour. His citation reads:- "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a diver engaged in rescue operations at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 February 1945. Aware of the danger when 2 fellow divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling with jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 feet (12 m) of water and 20 feet (6.1 m) of mud. Hammerberg unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue despite the certain hazard of additional cave-ins and the risk of fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces of steel imbedded in the shifting mud. Washing a passage through the original excavation, he reached the first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him crosswise over his shipmate in a position which protected the man beneath from further injury while placing the full brunt of terrific pressure on himself. Although he succumbed in agony 18 hours after he had gone to the aid of his fellow divers, Hammerberg, by his cool judgment, unfaltering professional skill and consistent disregard of all personal danger in the face of tremendous odds, had contributed effectively to the saving of his 2 comrades. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country". Navydivers.net
  170. 1979 5 5 Eke B E UK Maritime Offshore Products 31 S/S Air British, aged 34. Southern North Sea installation 48/29C, Over inflated dry suit, entangled in water jet equipment, helmet came detached, drowned
  171. 1974 5 23 Auestad B UK 61 Norwegian, aged 24. Died of natural causes in the DDC, Delay in getting him into DDC - obese – plus post mortem revealed history of heart problems, not medically fit to dive.
  172. 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
  173. 2003 3 24 Riani Avishai Israel Ardag Fish Farm SCUBA Aged 42, dive team leader at the Ardag Fish Farm in Eilat where had worked for the previous 10 years. Around 9 o'clock in the evening in a storm, 20 -25 knot winds, 3 metre seas, went with one other diver went out to repair a seawater inlet pie (supplying fresh seawater to land based fish breeding tanks). Onshore team noticed his body floating on the surface and pulled him ashore but were unable to revive him. No obvious injuries, no details.
  174. 1872 4 15 Siebe Augustus UK Augustus Siebe, designer of the 'Standard' diving dress died. He left his Company to his Son-in-Law, Willian Gorman, and the Company changed it's name to Siebe-Gorman, remaining in trade until 1998 when it was sold to Norcross, Norcross sold the company in 1999 at which time the company was renamed AMtec (Air Master Technology). AMtec stopped trading in 2001 and the owners sold the name to a Malaysian concern making breathing apparatus trading as "The Siebe Gorman Company (Malaysia)"
  175. 1837 0 0 Siebe Augustus UK Siebe Ltd S/S Air Augustus Siebe designed the first completely sealed (watertight) diving dress. Though there were many refinements, the overall design was largely unchanged until replaced by SCUBA and modern surface supplied helmets in the 1960s. First used by the Royal Navy in 1840 to continue salvage of the "Royal George", the "Siebe Improved Diving Dress" was then adopted as the standard diving equipment for the Royal Engineers leading to setting up of the first Navy Diving School in 1843
  176. 2010 9 6 Giogine Augusto Brazil Aged 50, diver charging diving cylinders onboard the trawler 'Luz do Dia' port of Saco de Bananal (Near Rio). 04:30 on a Sunday morning, reported as compressor explosion, a splinter of wood hit him in the neck causing massive bleeding. Reported in Angranews
  177. 2001 10 14 Farr Aubrey Jamica Topsides Aged 32, the third specialist drug search diver to have been murdered in 12 months. His body was found by residents on the soft shoulder of Diamond Road, Kingston, with multiple stab and chop wounds. Two other divers, Carl Lubsey and Donovan Henry, were shot dead in separate incidents in Clarendon and St. James last year. It is alleged that Mr. Farr who had replaced Mr. Lubsey, left his home last weekend to check the hull of a cargo ship in Port Antonio, Portland. The threat of Hurricane Iris forced the ship to leave sooner than expected and Mr. Farr, who was travelling with another diver, returned to Kingston. His body was found on the street about 3 a.m. His van was found on Wednesday, parked on the Port Henderson Road, near to Portmore, St. Catherine. The passenger seat was stained with blood, and the commercial radio was missing but Mr. Farr's diving equipment was intact. The killers of the other two divers have still not been found. Jamaia Gleaner
  178. 2018 8 3 dos Santos Filho Athayde (Tatá) Brazil Fugro 170 Sat Petrobras announced in a note to Imprensa that another fatal accident occurred on Friday, August 3, this time in the Santos Basin. The injured was the diver Athayde dos Santos Filho, 57, affectionately named "Tatá" and considered the most experienced in oil activity, who worked for the company Fugro in operation in Campo de Mexilhão. The diver was in saturated diving operation to a depth of 170 meters, providing support in the installation of submarine pipelines when the accident happened. Source: http://www.portalmaritimo.com/2018/08/05/mergulhador-morre-em-acidente-na-bacia-de-santos/
  179. 2005 7 19 Atanassov Atanas Middle East FDI Saturation Bulgarian, onboard the "Gulmar Falcon", End of bell run, Heart attack. Discovered to be on medication for high blood pressure.
  180. 1973 4 16 Jain Atan bin Singapore Selco Salvage Private limited 3 Injured in the same accident that killed Mohamed Mohamed and injured Kenneth Morrison when a hatch on the Italian vessel Igara (Ex Japan en route to Brazil with Iron ore which had sunk following striking a rock near Horsburgh lighthouse on March 19th) they were opening exploded open under pressure. Straits Times
  181. 2011 8 0 Himden Ashraf Qatar El Safwa Topsides Egyptian diver working on the Pearl Island residential development, working in a confined space, gas leak. Triple fatality with two killed on site, the third died in hospital. Initially not reported in the public domain but Qatari authorities now investigating. PC
  182. 2012 2 19 Diaz Arturo Alejandro Rivas Chile Aquachile SA Aged 33, Beticoi salmon farm, diving accident on site, medivac to Puerta Melinka where it was reported that he died of cardiac arrest due to crush injuries sustained from a large cage of fish. Reported by rin.cl/noticas
  183. 1942 11 9 Preston Arthur Edward Australia Chamber “Clothes Burn Under Water� SYDNEY, Tuesday. “In addition to severe burns from which he died 33-year-old diver Arthur Edward Preston was suffering also from severe cramps of muscles when he was raised from the bed of the Hawkesbury River yesterday. Cramps were due to emergency steps taken to raise him from the deep pressure of the water. Preston, who lived in Campbell Street, Gosford, had been lowered in an airlock diving chamber when it is believed smouldering embers from his pipe set fire to his clothes. Before he could be raised his clothing had been burned off and his body was scarred from head to knees. It was not until workmates saw smoke arising that they suspected that something alarming had happened�. Reported in the Daily News, Perth, WA
  184. 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.
  185. 1985 1 15 Belleque Arthur A “Jerry� USA SCUBA Commercial fishing operation in the Columbia river, diving to remove snags from the river bed using a drag net and two boats. Pulled from the river alive but died in hospital. Sheriff stated it was possible he had died of natural causes, but an autopsy was planned. No further details
  186. 2012 4 12 Bogs Arsinas UAE Target Engineering 18 SS/Air Reported that a Philippino diver (Not IMCA certified, alledgedly refused certification by WCCD) was brought to the surface from depth without completing decompression (dive possibly aborted by supervisor because "diver was not performing adequately in the water"). After 10 minutes on deck, collapsed. Put in a DDC and treated (Table? Depth?) but did not respond. Transferred to hospital but died the day after. No investigation, reported to his family by the contractor that he 'died in his room of a heart attack' Possibly no medical, possibly not fit to dive. Reported by The Divers Association
  187. 1923 6 1 Doe Arnold R USA S/S Air Superintendent of bridges of the state highway department, inspecting the East Haddam Bridge, 'died about 2:30 o'clock this afternoon from an internal haemorrhage'
  188. 1945 8 7 Zetterstrom Arne Sweden Navy 160 S/S Mixed Gas SWEDISH DIVER KILLED ATTEMPTING RECORD DESCENT. London, August 8 (AAP) – “Arne Zetterstrom (27), a Swedish navy diver, holder of the deep sea record of 364 feet, was suffocated when ascending from a dive in which he attempted to set a new record of 525 feet. Zetterstrom made his record last December, breathing a mixture of air and hydrogen, largely eliminating the narotic effect of nitrogen�. Reported in the Cairns Post, Qld. Arne Zetterström (1917 – 7 August 1945), researcher into the breathing mixture hydrox for the Swedish Navy. Zetterström first described the use of hydrogen as a breathing gas in 1943. From 1943 to 1944, a total of six ocean dives were made utilizing this mixture with the deepest to 160 meters (96% hydrogen and 4% oxygen). On 7 August 1945, Zetterström experienced technical problems diving from the HMS Belos. His support divers misread his signals and this was followed by a rapid ascent that resulted in severe decompression sickness and hypoxia.
  189. 1930 12 7 Franceschi Aristide France Gianni and Co Topsides One of three Italian divers who made the deepest to date salvage dives from the “Artiglio� (134m, wreck of the “Egypt�, summer 1930) before working on the wreck of the Florence (9000 tonnes munitions ship sank of St Nazaire in 1917). Munitions exploded sinking the salvage vessel. They were using explosives to dismantle the wreck and to save time, reduced the stand-off distance from 2 miles to being virtually overhead.
  190. 2010 8 9 Castro Antonio Romero Mexico Almeja Caterina 36 S/S Air Paraphrased from press reports:- “Aged 47 years (or 50 years, depending on report), from Cuidad Constitucion, scallop diver working out of Ensenada Blanca at the Magdalena Bay Complex, went home after work, felt ill, went to the Port of San Carlos hyperbaric centre. A health official in the hyperbaric chamber located in the port said that it must report that this unfortunate diver did not die in the hyperbaric chamber as previously reported due to lack of oxygen and much less about the lack of timely patient care but to the seriousness of the symptoms caused by severe decompression, this being the cause of death, according to the opinion of the medical examiner who performed the autopsy. Cause of death listed as 'inadequate decompression, decompression illness, massive pulmonary thrombosis and oedema' It was stated that prior to the this person had been working for 4 hours at 30 meters when the compressor stopped. Dive related to the fishing industry of the municipality of Comondu. No other details. Reported by Peninsulardigital.com
  191. 2011 10 6 Silva Antonio Portugal SCUBA Aged 45, resident in Aveiro, found dead in the evening, in SCUBA gear near his boat anchored in the estuary, assumed to be drowning (pending autopsy) but mask broken and bleeding from the ears. Reported to be completely inexperienced, had a bag with a few clams, alledged to be illegal clam fishing. Wife and two children. News Ralaccionadas
  192. 2011 3 18 Marin Antonio Argentina Aged 43, carrying out underwater repairs to the bow of the "Golestan" moored in the port of Quequen, recovered to deck but failed to respond to treatment. No other details. Reported by DiarioNecochea.com
  193. 1893 11 0 Corpus Antonie Australia S/S Air "Death of a Diver". Thursday Island, November 6. "A Manila diver named Antonie Corpus died a few days ago from working in deep water at Darnley Island, where the boats are still working, the crews being unaware of the issue of the Government proclamation closing the grounds. He was working as a relief diver on the lugger 'Zanco'. South Australian Register, Adelaide, SA
  194. 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
  195. 2005 1 2 Eke Anthony James Romania Titan Underwater cave in during salvage of the 'Rostok' from the Danube (Second later fatality, Whitekettle, 21/11/2005)
  196. 2021 3 3 Gockerell Anthony Glen USA Grayzone Seafood and Trade LLC 23m S/S Air "Aged 35, father of four, wife expecting another, geoduck harvesting in the Dungeness West geoduck tract in the Strait of Juan de Fuca 6 miles East of Ediz Hook. Air line entangled at around 08:30, pulled to the surface by deck crew and given CPR during transit to Port Angeles where fire department medics continued treatment as he was transferred to the Olympic Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead at 09:46. Reported by the Peninsula Daily News.Accident Investigation. OSHA Summary Nr: 133933.015 Event: 03/03/2021 Employee Is Killed After Drowning During Clam Harvest Dive At 8:30 a.m. on March 3, 2021, an employee was finishing a 70 foot dive to harve st geoducks (clams) and had just completed a 10 foot rest to slowly equalize pre ssure before returning to the boat. The air line the employee was using became t angled and he was unable continue his ascent. During the time he and his coworke rs (the boat crew) were attempting to free his air line, his mask came off causing him to drown."
  197. 1976 5 3 Dobson Anthony (Tony) UK Comex 37 S/S Air British, aged 30. Pipelay barge "Orca", stinger checks, either umbilical snagged subsea, pulled out of basket during recovery, extended umbilical (OD), or fouling of long umbilical in tideway, lost mouthpiece (HSE), stand-by diver could not reach him, drowning
  198. 2006 2 24 Guarascio Anthony USA Drake associates 11 S/S Air American, aged 24, Delaware River, Camden, NJ, jackhammer concrete, lost air supply, clawed his way to the surface, without air 5+ minutes, coma, 9 + months paralysis, prognosis not reported
  199. 2004 8 0 Rosenbaum Anthony USA Caldive 70 "Caldiver II", 3rd degree burns, law suit, Broco BR 22 defective manufacturing plus bad technique
  200. 1934 4 22 Sakalvous Antanis USA S/S Air Greek, aged 45, sponge diver on the 'Demetra' out of Tarpon Springs, a few minutes into his dive signalled that he had a problem and was brought up, unconscious, taken ashore but died in hospital. No details. St Petersburg Times
  201. 1922 11 17 Couch Anna USA Rockefeller Institute Chamber Woman undergoing oxygen therapy in a chamber,, fire reported as caused by a short circuit, her bed and bedding erupted into flames. “In the highly oxygenate atmosphere the flames spread so swiftly and burned so fiercely that there was no chance for the patient� A nurse with her in the chamber survived unhurt. New York Times
  202. 1982 44 27 Rivera Anibal Argentina S/S Air Vomited underwater. Died. No details. PC
  203. 1982 4 27 Rivera Anibal Argentina Comex S/S Air Got into difficulty while underwater, vomited and subsequently drowned. No other details. PC
  204. 1950 7 1 Palazzi Angelo Italy Chamber "Two deep sea divers were burned to death in a decompression chamber at Bari, Italy. The two divers had just entered the chamber when the fire broke out. By the time attendant had got the doors open, the two men were dead" The Milwaukee Journal
  205. 2011 5 25 Chavez Angel Lopez Mexico Construcciones Mare Aged 29, diving at the Ensada Marine Terminal. Reports indicate that the Federal Department of Labour laumched an investigation following an accident that was hidden from the authorities and that at that time the construction company had not allowed inspectors from the Ministry to enter the site (Companies are required to notify the authorities within 72 hours, the accident happened on the 25th May and apparently as of 4th August - the date of the report - authorities had neither been informed nor allowed access to the site). Autopsy listed causes of death as due to rib and spine injuries, lacerations to the chest, Accident occurred during cutting operations, injuries caused by a falling metal bar hitting the diver in the chest. No other details. AFN/Ensenada.net etc
  206. 2008 3 11 Sievers Andy USA Chet Morrison Topsides Killed in explosion, blown into water, search called off 3 days later, body recovered offshore Ecuador
  207. 2001 12 4 Cleugh Andrew Ross Netherlands 22 S/S Air British, aged 29, trapped underwater during a pipeline survey, trench wall collapse “caused by an earth tremor�, inquest in March 2006, drowned, no real details.
  208. 2020 6 21 Pybus Andrew John GOM Subsea 7 Sat Andy Pybus (born December 15th, 1960 ) British national, sat diver when lockout to the bell on board DSV Seven Pegasus Liberian flag working in USA waters at GOM suffered a cardiovascular issue and died. Under investigation
  209. 1946 8 26 Carlson Andrew Anthony USA S/S Air Aged 27, sponge diver out of Tarpon springs diving off the 40' boat 'Kaliopi' North West of Big Banks. Began working as a diver in 1942, joined the army in 1944, worked on the clearance operations of the river Passig in Manila, left the army in March 1946 and moved to Dunedin with his wife and three year old son. Air hose severed by boat's propeller. St Petersburg Times
  210. 2013 5 13 Houston Andrew Australia SCUBA Aged 51, alleged to have received infringement notices for poaching abalone in 1989 and 1992, went missing on Sunday afternoon, his body was found by police divers the day after 50 metres from the beach attached to a 30kg bag of abalone. He had no abalone licence, the daily limit for abalone was 5kg and it was out of season. Abalone poaching in Victoria carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years and a $150,000 fine. Herald Sun
  211. 2003 5 0 Iles Andrew Saudi Arabia ADAMS One of three divers (With Stephen Harley and Michael Hopley) allegedly exposed to toxic chemicals chemicals discharged from a vessel owned by Saudi Aramco, in May 2003. All three were admitted to hospital with rashes and nausea and were then readmitted for a further ten days after they experienced difficulties in breathing and became lethargic. None have been able to return to diving as an occupation. They are bringing a negligence action in the UK against the diving contractor and diving supervisor (March 2009). Details sub judice
  212. 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.
  213. 1961 12 0 Matel Andrew Corsica Topsides Frequenting local bars boasting that he had discovered the fabled sunken treasure of General Erwin Rommel. After a couple of nights of such behaviour his bullet riddled body was found in a field near Propriano. Whispered that it was 'the Mafia'. (See 1951, Peter Fleig, another diver who disappeared in strange circumstances)
  214. 1930 1 13 Hoffman or Hofferman Andrew Australia S/S Air Aged 65, from Cardiff, working in Newcastle Harbour, reported that a wire caught his air hose just above his helmet, another diver working with him brought him to the surface but attempts at resuscitation failed. Recorded as suffocated from blocked air pipe. Reported in the Western Argus and Sydney Morning Herald
  215. 2008 4 25 Rebolledo Andres Nelson Bustamente Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe 40 Chilean, aged 29, Salmon farm in central Butachauques, reported as DCI, died in hospital (inference is SCUBA and no DDC, to be confirmed) "Third diver to die in the industry this year. Reported that there have been 54 fatalities in the salmon industry since 2005. Ecoceane
  216. 2021 4 19 Teigel Coliague Andres Alejanndro Chile SGM Austral/Aqua Chile SCUBA Aged 41. 'Diver dies at AquaChile salmon farming site/The diver was conducting maintenance at the site (In Aysen) when the accident occurred, Reported by Intrafish. Another diver died on the same site on 20th March 2020 (Juan Ruiz Gallardo). Initial reports said "Cause of death was suffocation by decompression sickness"
  217. 2009 6 8 Popov Andrei Vasilii Italy SCUBA Aged 28, Bulgarian, diving off a Spanish flagged commercial coral harvesting vessel 28 miles West of the Island of Marettimo (off Sicily). "Plunged into the sea and never resurfaced. The prosecutor's office of the Sicilian town of Trapani has ordered that an investigation is conducted into the disappearance". No details
  218. 1998 4 22 Rozhkov Andrei Arctic Moscow State University Diving Club 50 SCUBA First attempt at underwater exploration of the North Pole, Russian firefighter and diver with the support of the Diving Club of Moscow State University, inexplicably went limp and died minutes into a solo dive. Team members later said they'd seen mysterious spotlights and heard a deafening "sonar ping" right before his death, prompting speculation that a patrolling Russian submarine may have caused his demise. Not confirmed, Cause of death reported as heart attack). The next attempted dive at the North Pole was organized by the same club next year, on April 24, 1999, and was successful. The divers were Michael Wolff (Austria), Brett Cormick (UK) and Bob Wass (USA)
  219. 2006 6 16 Blaauw André USA Superior Saturation South African, first saturation, DSV "Superior Endeavour", closing bottom door at end of bell run, bungee cord caught on bell door, released and struck him in the eye. Permanent loss of sight in one eye.
  220. 2005 2 15 Wolmarans André South Africa Subtech Diving and marine SCUBA South African, aged 19, Durban harbour, cleaning the propeller of a fishing vessel, "someone inside the vessel accidentally activate the propeller". He was standing on it at the time, it took police divers 7 hours to find his body. Outdoornewswire.
  221. 1949 12 14 Boitelle Andre Australia S/S Air “Thursday Island Diver Paralysed. A French diver, Andre Boitelle, aboard the lugger ‘Kingfisher’, working new ground at 15 fathoms, fell a further three fathoms in an unexpected crevice on the ocean bed. He was brought to the surface paralysed from the waist down, and at present is in the Thursday Island Hospital. His condition is serious�. Our Thursday Island correspondent. Reported in the Cairns Post, Qld. Another report stated:- DEPTH BEAT WHITE DIVER. One of the few white divers engaged in pearling operations at Thursday Island was admitted to hospital severelv paralvsed with 'diver's bends,' according to information received in Townsville on Thursday. The victim is the French diver, known as Andre, who was brought to Thursday Island by the lugger ‘Kingfisher’ on Sunday night. This is believed to be the first case of the 'bends' this year at Thursday Island. Andre, a former sponge diver from Normandy, has been diving at Thursday Island for about six months. Mr. E. A. Duffield, who has pearling interests at Thursday Island, and is at present visiting Townsville, said on Thursday; 'diver's bends' were usually suffered by divers when about the 13 fathom murk. Present operating depth was about 8 fathoms. Mr. Duffield said susceptibility to 'bends' depended on the diver's stamina. He said the usual practice was to depressurise the victim by raising him by degrees to the surface. Reported in the Townsville Bulletin
  222. 0 0 0 Marti André Saudi Arabia Berri field, Saudi Arabia, H2S poisoning
  223. 1997 5 19 Kassim Aminnuddin Che Singapore Aged 41, one of two experienced divers (the other diver was Salleh Kudin) killed clearing debris from the cooling inlets of the petrochemical plant at Pillau Ayer Merbau on the same afternoon. Differential Pressure incident but no details. Straits Times
  224. 1928 12 7 Ali Amat bin Australia Gregory & Castilla 37 S/S Air “PEARL DIVER'S DEATH. Collapsed in 20 fathoms�. PERTH, Friday – “A message from Broome states that Amat Bin Ali, a pearl. diver, collapsed and died in 20 fathoms of water yesterday, when pearling off Lacepede Island. Ali signalled to be pulled up again, then he hastily signalled: "Stage me, quick." He was "staged" at 15 fathoms for five minutes, but when brought up he was dead A doctor certified that death was due to syncope� Reported by the Recorder, Port Pirie, SA
  225. 1993 9 21 Paldhe Amar India Indian Navy Surface Swimmer Diver with the Eastern Naval Command. Had just returned to duty after a 45 day leave, was the most junior member of a 4 man team involved in a helicopter exercise off Visakhapatnam, had not been trained in jumping from a helicopter, was not provided with a life jacket or quick release belt. Family initially told an SAR could not be launched because it was high tide (it was low tide at the time), body not preserved properly. Navy report states that he died of "the combined effects of shock, haemorrhage, multiple injuries and drowning". The family contest that account referring to the post mortem which reports anti-mortem injuries to his axilla and near his ear and claim negligence by his superiors. Reported by DNA
  226. 2011 1 5 Flores Alvaro Hernandez Mexico Aged 28, diving under the fishing boat 'Joisafco III' that had run aground near a packing plant assessing hull damage and preparing to refloat the vessel. The Captain started the engines and the rotating propeller immediately sliced off the diver's left arm. His brother on deck reached in to try to pull the diver out but the propeller dragged him under and inflicted a fatal cut to the throat that virtually decapitated him. Fire department divers recovered the body and severed arm. Reported by Hoy Tamaulipas.net
  227. 2021 2 9 Iagos Penailillo Alonso or Hector Chile Passub at AquaChile Site 52m SCUBA "Aged 42, diving at the AquaChile Aysen 2 salmon cultivation centre near Puerto Chacabuco. Decompression illness incident compounded by 50 minute transit to Puerto Chacabuco. Then taken to Puerto Aysen Hospital (15km away) to their hyperbaric centre but died the following day. Reported by salmonexpert.cl. A later report quoting his nephew stated that his first name was Alonso, not Hector, that the dive was to 52 metres (not 25 metres as reported by the Company), that when he reached port there was no support and he had to hitch a ride in a truck to Puerto Aysen, that when he arrived at Aysen hospital they made him wait prior to therapeutic recompression, that his treatment was 'only 3 to 4 hours', that afterwards doctors assured the family he was stable and sleeping (03:40 hours) but at 08:00 hours told them he was in organ failure and died at 11:35 Reported by El Tirapiedras. Some reports question why it took 7 hours for him to get to hospital when it was a 50 minute speedboat transit."
  228. 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
  229. 1979 8 15 Anderson Allan Mexico Taylor Diving and Salvage 50 Saturation American, aged 32, "Ixtox I" blow-out 3rd of June, Bay of Campeche, Mexico, Drill rig "Sedco 135F" sank. Diver died during attempts to shut in the well, off the barge "LB Meaders", caught in vortex at wellhead and blown to the surface. Well finally capped 23/3/1980, second biggest oil-spill in history. Wife and two children aged 11 and 7.
  230. 1998 5 18 MacPhail Alister China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  231. 2013 3 13 Sumaylo Alger Philippines Omega Steel & Marine Services 1 SCUBA Aged 27, Double fatality (with Glenn Pahit, also aged 27). Salvage operation on the vessel 'B and E Uno' (en route from Iligan City to Pier 4 in Cebu city carrying 23,000 bags of cement) which ran aground before capsising on July 1st 2012 less than a mile from the coast off Canjulao (Lapu-Lapu city). After 5 months of salvage operations the vessel was refloated in early December but then sank again two days later. The owner of the salvage company said that they had suspended ongoing salvage operations the previous week (waiting on a salvage vessel to lift some components prior to bringing the vessel ashore) and left the two divers guarding the wreck. They were reported missing on Wednesday the 13th, his body was located inside the wreck at low tide (partially submerged but trapped under the hull) by other salvage contractor divers on the morning of the 14th, they called the coastguard who sent a team who recovered both bodies later that day. Initial reports said that when recovered, both divers "were in complete diving gear" and it was reported that the bodies were already decomposing. The owner surmised that the two divers "had decided to dive to retrieve scrap meta whilst everybody was away". Foul play was ruled out as the divers belongings were intact. Later reports said that the coastguard had asked Soco (Scene Of Crime Operations) to check where the bodies were located as they were not discounting foul play. It was then alleged that the divers did not have permission to dive and might not have been in diving gear, though it appears that both bodies showed significantly decomposition and it is not clear when they died. Reported in the Sun Star
  232. 1894 5 12 Gurr (or Gun?) Alfred Henry UK S/S Air "Shocking accident. A man named Alfred Henry Gurr, living in Buckland, who was employed at new harbour works as a diver, met with..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald/The British Newspaper Archive
  233. 1884 5 0 Gurr (Or Gun?) Alfred Henry UK "Dover. Shocking accident. A man named Alfred Henry Gurr, living in Buckland, who was employed at new harbour works as a diver, met with..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald/The British Newspaper Archive
  234. 1891 11 18 Luke (or Lukes?) Alfred Burton UK S/S Air "A diver drowned, a diver named Luke was examining some damaged moorings in Portsmouth harbour". "A diver named Luke went down to Portsmouth Harbour shortly after 9 o'clock on Wednesday to examine the moorings of the Corporation buoy near Portsea Pier,...". No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Coventry Evening Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive
  235. 1963 10 0 Egner Alfred Austria SCUBA Aged 19 from Munich, drowned on a night dive in lake Toplitz. Three German businessmen were charged with his manslaughter in Munich in 1965 – he died during a secret treasure hunt for reputed Nazi treasure dumped in the lake and they failed to try to rescue him, also reported that his downline had been cut (at the surface). A search weeks later by Austrian authorities recovered the diver's body, printing presses and batches of forged British banknotes the Nazis intended to use to cause financial panic in the UK. The Sydney Morning Herald
  236. 1986 5 0 Ananenko Alexei USSR SCUBA Engineer at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, Uktraine, 26th April 1986. During tests reactor 4 went into meltdown causing the most significant release of radiation in history. During the immediate aftermath many workers were subjected to fatal doses of radiation in desperate attempts to mitigate the effects. At one stage, in order to reduce the risk of a steam explosion in the flooded baement area, three volunteers (Valeri Bezpalov, Boris Baranov and Alexei Ananenko) entered the flooded area in diving gear to open the sliuce gates manually. All three returned to the surface after completing the work but died later from radiation sickness. GPS Buceo/Wikipedia
  237. 1922 1 19 Rufer Alexander R USA Military S/S Air Aghed 32, diver attached to the local US Engineering corps, fatally injured whilst working on the Ohio river dam 5 (Between Rochester and Freedom, just north of Pittsbiugh, PA, striuck by a wicket being moved into place by a crane. The Pittsburgh Press
  238. 1900 0 0 Virco Alexander Joseph S/S Air Extraordinary death of a diver. … held an inquiry at Wimbledon concerning the death of Alexander Joseph Virco, aged 37 years..." Report dated Saturday 1st December 1900. No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Illustrated Police News News/The British Newspaper Archive
  239. 2010 12 22 Nikolaev Alexander Vietnam Tourist SCUBA Russian tourist diving off the island of Cu Lao Cau, double fatality (with Frenchman Philippe Busso). Another diver reported being knocked unconscious by a powerful explosion, local police blamed poachers 'blast' fishing. Voice of Russia
  240. 2008 12 9 Cuppini Alexander Italy SCUBA Aged 47 years died, maintenance of the Enel dam in San Pellegrino. Contractor prosecuted - diver had no medical, there was no risk assessment, there were no emergency procedures, inadequate diver training, diving equipment in poor state of repair and maintenance (using non-original parts that caused the failure of the regulator's first stage, dirt inside the first stage restricting gas flow) No back up equipment, no communications, no stand-by diver. Cause of death put down to a combination of “hypothermia and respiratory distress with accumulation of carbon dioxide." He appears to have died before anybody on the surface realised he had a problem. Reported in L'Eco di Bergamo.it
  241. 1908 9 1 McLachlan Alexander Australia Topsides The ravages of the great blow off La Grange Bay have been repaired, and Broome has practically forgotten the incident. Widespread sympathy was ex-pressed with sufferers by the disaster, and in the case of Mrs. McLachlan, whose husband, the well-known Freemantle diver, was drowned off his own lugger, a sum of £200 was promptly raised and placed at her disposal. It came at a time of sore need, as she had just passed through a maternity ordeal, and the loss of the breadwinner was a terrible blow. Most of the vessels lost during the tornado have been replaced, and pearling operations are now in full swing. reported in The Western Australian, Perth. Suspected named report for diver killed in the storm reported in April of 1908.
  242. 2013 12 1 Argoncillo Alex UAE Scamp / Gubunco 60m S/S Air One of two divers employed by Scamp Middle East reported as having died in November/December 2013 (The second was not named but was initially reported 'not diving related' but no details, waiting on clarification from Scamp. Later reported that the other death occurred on November 14th and was diving related). Philippino, Vessel husbandry job off Fujairah, unclear whether he got entangled in a brush cart umbilical or his diving umbilical was caught in the vessel propellor. No details, his best friend, Alex Tejedar, died in Italy in April 2013 (Costa Concordia salvage works, but death was not diving related). PC. Another report states that the incident occurred on surface supply when the divers umbilical caught in cleaning chariot brush, diver surfaced and removed band mask, chariot started to pull diver under water, standby diver launched ( in SCUBA) and gives second stage to diver in distress, diver bites off 2nd stage, rescue abandoned, diver pulled under water and drowned. PC
  243. 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)"
  244. 1930 12 7 Bargellini Alberto France Gianni and Co Topsides One of three Italian divers who made the deepest to date salvage dives from the “Artiglio� (134m, wreck of the “Egypt�, summer 1930) before working on the wreck of the Florence (9000 tonnes munitions ship sank of St Nazaire in 1917). Munitions exploded sinking the salvage vessel. They were using explosives to dismantle the wreck and to save time, reduced the stand-off distance from 2 miles to being virtually overhead.
  245. 1930 12 7 Gianni Alberto France Gianni and Co Topsides One of three Italian divers who made the deepest to date salvage dives from the “Artiglio� (134m, wreck of the “Egypt�, summer 1930) before working on the wreck of the Florence (9000 tonnes munitions ship sank of St Nazaire in 1917). Munitions exploded sinking the salvage vessel. They were using explosives to dismantle the wreck and to save time, reduced the stand-off distance from 2 miles to being virtually overhead.
  246. 1989 1 11 Harjula Albert O. USA 17 S/S Air Aged 29, working on the 80 foot high Wilderness Dam (Owned by Great Northern Paper), got trapped by water pressure at a leak point on the dam face. Rescue diver (Daniel Sullivan), also got trapped at the same location. Both were pulled out using winches after a second rescue diver, Brian Michaud, managed to attached pulling ropes to their harnesses 11 hours after the initial incident, but he was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital Double fatality (Daniel Sullivan). Michaud was hospitalised but OK. Spokane Chronicle
  247. 1897 2 25 Olsen Albert M USA Baltimore Wrecking Company S/S Air “A driver in the employ of the Baltimore Wrecking Company, died suddenly yesterday while he was under water in a diving suit in the channel of the Patapsco river, off Sparrow's Point. "Heart disease is supposed to have caused his death� (Quote from his employer......)
  248. 1935 5 15 Wunderlich Albert Edward Australia 2 S/S Air Aged about 40, single, working on the construction of the high level bridge over the Herbert river near Ingham, diving routinely in 7 or 8 feet of water, had been down sometime, at smoko they signalled him to prepare for pulling up but received no response and immediately hauled him up. The diver reached the surace minus his headdress which had become detached from the costume. A doctor and ambulance were hurridly summoned but after arduous endeavours at respiration life was pronounced to be extinct. Reported in the Nothern Miner.
  249. 1973 6 18 Stover Albert USA Johnson-Sea Link 107 Submarine Aged 51, mini sub pilot. Trapped on the wreck of a sunken destroyer, the two men in the rear compartment (Link and Stover) died (asphyxiation), two in the forward compartment survived
  250. 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.
  251. 2005 7 26 Kringle Alan USA Anchor Marine Environmental Services S/S Air Aged 16, Reported as recreationally SCUBA qualified 8 months earlier, had been working as a diver for the contractor for 6 months. Four man team working on a lake restoration project. Conflicting press/sheriff reports. One version is that 'he surfaced but then sank', another that the compressor 'just ran out of gas', another that the compressor stopped but had a reserve tank but that for some reason he ditched his helmet, another that only his hands broke surface though there seems to be agreement that as the incident progressed, the surface crew pulled on this hose but only succeeded in pulling up his helmet and discovered he was entangled in another rope, eventually brought to the surface not breathing, no pulse. On site CPR, taken to Orlando Regional Medical Centre, reported as in a critical condition. No further details.
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