Incidents List
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Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details -
1841 11 11 Not Recorded "Pearl diver, that died (from over exertion or some other cause) immediately after he had reached the land or boat from which he …" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in The Worcester Journal/The British Newspaper Archive -
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 -
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 -
0 0 0 Harrison USA Failed compensation claim by relatives -
0 0 0 Marti André Saudi Arabia Berri field, Saudi Arabia, H2S poisoning -
0 0 0 Peck John W American, commercial diver, died in an accident, no details -
0 0 0 Shambhu Article on rescue divers working the Varanasi Ghats in the Express of India in 2008. “In another incident, a diver, Shambhu, died while trying to extract a defective water-pump from a well in the Central Hindu School at Varanasi". No details. -
0 0 0 Witherow David Mexico American, head injuries during spoolpiece lifting operation -
2014 10 21 Lopez Cruz Jose Joaquin E.ON Power Generation Plant. Los Barrios, Cadiz, Spain Satemar Compania De Trabajos Submarinos When diving to perform a photographic underwater inspection in a siphon inlet on the E.ON coal-fired power plant refrigeration system the diver was sucked into the inlet. -
2014 9 14 Not Recorded Kuwait Diver killed: An Egyptian diver in his 40s died while doing maintenance work on a huge gate in Al-Zour, reports Alam Alyawm daily. However, the Al-Seyassah daily said the diver fell off a boat and drowned. The corpse was fished out of the waters by divers from the Coast Guard. Reported in the Arab Times online -
2014 8 14 Relique Jesus Spain Aged 43, from Cadiz, married with 2 children, commercial diver for over 10 years, working at the port of Motril in Granada (Extending and deepening), appears to have been a three man team, the incident ocurred just after 8 in the evening, he was seen on the surface, unconcious, treated but was declared deceased at 10:30pm. No details. The Seaside Gazette -
2014 6 10 Rodriguez Ernesto USA Ric-Man Construction Aged 45, construction diver working on a pipe underwater in a roadside drainage ditch near Indian Trace and Bonaventure Boulevard in Weston, Florida, 'became entagled in cables and trapped underwater'. he was rescued at third attempt and taken to Cleveland clinic aound 13:00 hours but pronounced dead. Reported in the Sun Sentinel. An ISHN report dated mid December 2014 stated:- "A 45-year-old untrained diver died June 10, 2014 while completing surface-supplied air diving during underwater activities for the City of Weston, Florida. OSHA’s investigation into the fatality resulted in Ric-Man International Inc. being cited for 19 safety violations, including one willful, for failure to provide cave-in protection for employees working inside an excavation approximately 12-feet deep. From the company's website:- "At Ric-Man, we have cultivated a philosophy that promotes an environment free of accidents and injuries. We are dedicated to provide a high level of safety in the construction industry which includes partnering with the insurance industry through training, education and guidance. In our Industry, safety is measured by an “Experience Modification Rate” (EMR), it is the industry standard the calculation of workers compensation rates. This standard measures a particular company's occurrence and gravity of accidents and injuries. The industry average is 1.0. Ric-Man’s modifier has consistently been below this average. We are dedicated to providing a safe working environment for our employees, our clients and the general public, with our weekly tool box safety meetings, quarterly supervisors continuing safety classes, and our company wide safety classes three times a year. We are prepared to provide our employees with the tools, expertise, and means to reduce risks throughout or worksites." OSHA went on to say that threir standards require that all trenches and excavation sites 5 feet or deeper be protected against sidewall collapses. Protection may be provided through shoring of trench walls, sloping of the soil at a shallow angle or by using a protective trench box. OSHA has created a National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation. OSHA cited the company four times previously for lack of cave-in protection and excavation hazards.Thirteen serious violations were issued to Ric-Man International for failure to ensure workers who performed diving operations were experienced and trained to perform underwater tasks safely; provide divers with a backup air supply, safety harness and two-way voice communication for emergencies; and to plan and assess risks associated with diving, including underwater conditions, obstructions and visibility. The company also failed to provide dive team members with CPR training. Proposed penalties total $161,000 -
2014 4 30 Rupping Luke Kuwait Mammoet Joined SA Navy 2003, went to diving school in Simonstown in 2004, joined the Operational Diving Team (ODT), went back to the Diving School as an Assistant Facilitator in 2004, qualified as supervisor 2007. Left the Navy in 2008 and started commercial diving. Reported as killed in a broco/underwater cutting incident, possibly a salvage job. No other details. -
2014 11 14 Thiago Matheus Brazil Sistac 12m Accident happened on the Petrobras production platform P-31 (Albacore field, Campos Basin, 180 km East of Macae) . Sistac are licensed air diving contactor (not IMCA), possibly working on a conductor slot, recovered to surface but did not respond to treatment, investigation ongoing by union. Reported sindipetronf.org.br -
2014 2 1 Moreno Franco Israel Italy UCS 10m Spanish, from La Coruna, aged 41. Working on the salvage of the Costa Concordia (Sank off the island of Grigio in January 2912 with the loss of 32 people), subcontracted to Titan, the main salvors, Metal brace being cut off fell on hin crushing his chest and gashing his groin, trapping, brought to surface by fellow diver, apparently still concious but later died of blood loss. Reported in 'The Province', Associated Press and Reuters -
2016 2 12 Rodriguez Marquex Joshua Spain Piscifactoria del Atlantico Aged 42, diving at the Playa Quemada, Yaiza, Lanzarote (Canary Islands) fish farm since 2004, children aged 9 and 13, dived to cut a rope off a propellor and was fatally injured when the propeller was engaged. Reported in La Provincia -
2016 4 25 Ngay Le Van Vietnam Int Manpower and Construction Aged 46, died on the way to hospital the day after diving at Ha Tinh on an embankment project for the Taiwanese company, Formosa Hung Nghiep steel, who are alledged to have polluted and killed large numbers of fish in recent weeks. Team members also claimed they had felt unwell after diving there. Ha Tinh News -
2016 6 13 Not Reported USA Cleaning the hull of a boat at the Fort Myers Marina, found floating in the Marina at Edison Ford an hour later, initial reports indicate that he may have been electrocuted from faulty wiring from the boats supply hooked up to the shoreside mains supply. No other details. Reported by news-press. com -
2016 7 22 Al Gallaf Riyadh Bahrain Aged 45, from Juffair, owned a marine and underwater services company, working for the Electricity and Water Authority near Sitra industrial area, reported as 'missing while on an urgent assignment along with a South African colleague for EWA on Friday'. No details. Reported by dt news/news of Bahrain -
2016 11 2 Whitcher Staff Sgt David USA Military Aged 30, from New Hampshire, died during a special forces training (Combat diver qualification course) dive off Key West, Florida. No details. Reported by CBS/AP. -
2017 5 23 Lataste PO Bob France Military 28m Aged 24, French Navy clearance diver on the mine hunter 'L'Aigle', Seine Bay, French Atlantic coast, unconscious at depth, brought to surface by second diver, medivac to Le Havre, died during the night. Reported by Sud Ouest -
2017 6 22 Naung Ko Saw Myanmar An-na-wa 40m Aged 45, Salvage of a crashed Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) Y-8 (Chinese built (Shaanxi) four engine turboprop military transport plane) off Launglon Township (13 miles from Dawai). Removing nets from the tail and trying to locate the black box, at least two, possibly three successive dives with partner Ko Thant Zin Oo, surfaced and prepared to eat, Ko Saw Naung collapsed, Ko Thant Zin Oo paralysed legs/hands. 'Local villagers' took them both down to 60 feet, Ko Saw Naung recovered consciousness. Recovered to surface and both passed out, possibly 6 further attempts at in water treatment 'I recovered conscious, he did not' said Ko Thant Zin Oo. Taken ashore and given three further therapeutic treatments, Ko Thant Zin Oo recovered in hospital but Ko Saw Nauntg died. Reported in the Myanmar times -
2017 7 22 Not Reported China CNOOC '"CNOOC shuts in Lufeng fields. Diver lost life in initial effort to repair leak on Nanhai Shengkai FSO that has affected four fields in the Pearl River Mouth basin caused by a sea valve during repair work on the FSO". "Initial efforts to stop the leak claimed the life of one diver. However, no oil spill was reported and CNOOC is now studying the impact of the incident and is looking at ways to resume production". Upstreamonline (This is rumoured to have been another Differential Pressure fatality, IMCA SF under preparation) -
2016 11 0 Viernes Eleazar Philippines Keppel Subic In a Manila Times report dated 9th December:- 'SUBIC, Zambales: A contractual worker for Keppel Subic Shipyard Inc. and a sandblaster at Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) died in separate accidents here last month. Eleazar Viernes, 63, a diver from Olongapo City, died while working underwater with another worker to install a dummy gate for replacement of valve of its Pacific Dock. Viernes, however, was reported by another worker to have suffered difficulty in breathing underwater. He died an hour later at the hospital. -
2016 12 13 Nava Pascasio Nino Mexico CAPAMA Aged 58, working for the Acapulco Municipal Water and Sewage Commission (CAPAMA), Papagayo 2 catchment are in the town of Salsipuedes, pumps still running, took six hours to recover the body (Nobody could authorise turning off the pumps), appears to have been another differential pressure incident. Reported by El Sur, periodico de guerrero -
2016 12 15 Scott David USA TK Potable Diving Aged 47, inspecting the inside of a water storage tank in Braintree, Texas, reported lost air and then became unconscious, his 'spotter' went in to rescue him and was himself rescued by firemen and taken to hospital with hypothermia, diver's body recovered 17 hours later. Diver's 14 year old son was on site at the time of the incident. Wind gusting 50-60 mph, air temp 25 degrees F, overflowing water freezing on the exposed roof of the tank. -
2016 12 28 Bahamonde Jose Chile Aged 56, shellfish diving from the vessel 'Javiera' (Registered in Achao) near Shilling Island, died, reported as decompression illness. Reported by biobiochile.cl -
2015 8 17 Millard Jeremy Puerto Rico Deep Solutions 14m Diving with two others on a fibre optic cable job when he touched the left side of his chest and started floating, rescued by the Pinones Maritime Unit but had no vital signs. Press report says 'died because of health complications'. Reported by Endi/elnuevodia.com -
2018 5 0 Bucio Juan USA Chicago Fire Department Juan Bucio, 46, was among the first responders called to a report of a person missing in the Chicago River near the 2600 block of South Ashland Avenue at around 8 p.m. Monday night, authorities said. Fire officials said Bucio was searching for a 28-year-old man who witnesses said they saw jump from a boat into the river. At one point, Bucio lost communication with his dive partner during the rescue attempt, officials said. Authorities said he was later located and CPR was administered before he was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, where he later died. “An order was given to switch out divers to bring the second team in, give them a break,” Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said at a news conference. “At that time, they were coming towards the boat. His partner turned around and he was missing, that quick,” Santiago added. The CFD diver is 46-year-old Juan Bucio. According to the Chicago Fire Department he has two sons, ages seven and nine. He was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. Bucio joined the Chicago Fire Department in 2003. He became part of the dive team in 2007. He has nine siblings including a brother with the Chicago Fire Department and a sister with the Chicago Police Department. Two other divers were released from Northwestern Memorial. One of the divers was Bucio’s partner. SourceE: https://www.statter911.com/2018/05/29/chicago-firefighter-juan-bucio-dies-in-search-for-missing-boater/ -
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. -
2019 7 29 Linston Terrence Olmsted Lock, Kentucky USA Global Diving and Salvage PULASKI COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) - A diver died while working on the Olmsted Lock and Dam project on Saturday, June 29. According to spokesperson with Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC, a commercial diver with Global Diving and Salvage died while working on the Olmsted Lock and Dam project. Terrence Linston reportedly had a incident while he was under water and did not survive. He had been employed with Globan since 2017 and had been working on the Olmsted project for two years. Global is contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the following statement on Wednesday, July 3: “Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the family members during this difficult time. We are closely coordinating with all parties as the cause of the incident is still under investigation.” - Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District According to the Moran Environmental Recovery spokesperson, they are cooperating with authorities and the investigation is ongoing. In May 2019, a massive crane specifically built to assemble, move and lift sections of the dam was demolished. In August 2018, a ribbon cutting was held for the Olmsted Lock and Dam project. The project, which replaced 1920’s-era infrastructure, hoped to make an easier navigation of commerce on the Ohio River. The Olmsted Lock and Dam is one of the busiest stretches of Illinois’ inland water system for commercial navigation. https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/07/03/diver-dies-while-working-olmsted-lock-dam-project/ -
2020 11 23 Hong Kong 23rd November 2020 – (Hong Kong) The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident in Kwai Chung this afternoon in which a man died. At about 4pm today (23rd), a male diver and several colleagues performed underwater welding works off the container terminal No. 5 in Kwai Chung. Colleagues discovered that he did not return ashore on time, they immediately called the police for help. The firefighters sent divers to the scene to search and rescue him. After some searches, they found the victim and immediately rescued him back to shore. However, the victim had fallen into a coma. The fire department immediately provided him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and he was sent to hospital by ambulance. Unfortunately, the victim died subsequently. The police classified the case as an industrial accident and investigated the cause of the accident. A female relative and a boy related to the victim rushed to the hospital. The Labour Department stated that it had deployed staff to the scene immediately and is now investigating the cause of the accident. Reported by: https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/diver-at-container-terminal-no-5-in-kwai-chung-dies-while-performing-underwater-welding-works/ -
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. -
2020 9 21 Madrid Eustoquio Curacao Curacao Industrial Diving Venezuelan. Curacao, Damen Ship Repair, Pier B, (Double fatality with Orlando Andreas Medina Gonzalez), one diver drowned, the second taken ashore alive but died, initial reports indicate 'unauthorised (SCUBA) equipment. No other details. Reported by SubaQuatica Magazine: https://www.subaquaticamagazine.es/dos-buzos-mueren-en-accidente-en-damen-shiprepair-en-curazao-el-caribe/ -
2020 9 21 Medina González Orlando Andrés Curacao Curacao Industrial Diving Venezuelan. Curacao, Damen Ship Repair, Pier B, (Double fatality with Eustoquio Madrid), one diver drowned, the second taken ashore alive but died, initial reports indicate 'unauthorised' (SCUBA) equipment. No other details. Reported by SubaQuatica Magazine: https://www.subaquaticamagazine.es/dos-buzos-mueren-en-accidente-en-damen-shiprepair-en-curazao-el-caribe/ -
2021 8 4 Aguilar Torres Ruben Mexico Arendal Diving off the Jacson 34, initially reported as 'an accident on an oiltanker' and 'bursting of a pipeline caused the death' but no real details. The same contractor (Arendal) had a previous fatalty in 2019 (Adolfo Leon Carrillo) Reported in social media (Facebook) and Tabascohoy.com -
2021 4 30 Not Recorded USA "OSHA Report . April 30, 2021 – E. Tri Lakes Crown Lake Dam, AR Summary - Employee was working on a drain pipe to see if it was clogged. The employee had placed a small metal tub plate over the opening of the drain pipe and he accidentally removed the tube. The debris that was clogged inside the drain was removed and became unclogged causing a whirlpool and pulled the employee into the drain approximately 60 feet down and employee's body was ejected approximately 120 feet away from the opening of the drain. The employee's body was severed in half causing a fatality. While this was not a diving fatality, the employee was a diver working in a wet suit. Similar hazards as other dams / plants with Delta P issue and not being aware of where the inlets / outlets piping of the dam were. RLH Construction – OSHA Inspection #1540325.015 – OPEN. i. Citations – 30OCT21 is the 6 month date ii. Problems - Improper manning / training? Lack of knowledge of system?"