BSAC

October 2005 06/006
A trainee diver complained of feeling unwell after a 30 min dive to a depth of 6m. During the dive he had had buoyancy problems but no other issues. It was thought that the diver was tired, having had an early start and other training in the morning. He took a day's rest before continuing his training. (Linked to 06/007).

October 2005 06/007
A trainee diver completed a 23 min dive to a maximum depth of 22m. 2 hours 30 min later he dived again. 10 min into the dive he was descending a shotline at a depth of 7m when he appeared to lose consciousness. The instructor took hold of him and brought him to the surface. He was recovered into a boat and he started to respond. He was placed on oxygen. Medical advice was sought and the diver was taken by ambulance to hospital. No problems were found. The diver reported that he became unwell while he was trying to clear his ears. He was discharged the following day. (Linked to 06/006).

October 2005 06/043
Two divers dived to a maximum depth of 20m. One of the pair made a fast ascent from 20m to the surface, missing safety stops. His dive duration was 30 min. About 35 min later he started to feel dizzy and had blurred vision. He was placed on oxygen for 30 min and recovered. No further action was reported.

October 2005 06/009
A diver conducted a 32 min dive to a depth of 9m. 1 hour later he dived to 6m for 14 min. During the ascent from this dive he became dizzy and felt as if he was spinning. He felt a sharp pain in his chest. At the surface the dizziness stopped. He gave a distress signal and was towed to the shore. He was placed on oxygen. Medical advice was sought and a reversed ear was finally diagnosed.

December 2005 06/034
A trainee diver and an instructor entered the water and commenced a gradual descent. The trainee experienced problems clearing his ears and they ascended a little. He cleared his ears and they descended to a maximum depth of 6m. During the dive the trainee experienced some buoyancy problems and they ascended a couple of times during the dive. After the dive blood was seen coming from the trainee's nose and then from his left ear. He sought medical advice and a suspected perforated eardrum was diagnosed. He stated that he felt no real pain during the dive but he also stated that he had had intermittent, long term ear problems that he had not declared on his self assessment form.

December 2005 06/032
During a boat handling course an RHIB was involved in man-overboard drills. As the boat turned sharply it hit rough water and a trainee in the bows was thrown into the water and struck by the propeller. He received deep cuts to his left foot and up to his knee. He was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment. It was found that he had also sustained broken bones in his right foot. It is thought that his neoprene drysuit helped to protect him from more severe injuries.

January 2006 06/039
At a diving club pool night an individual was engaged in swimming lengths of the pool. After about 30 lengths he was observed to stop swimming and just hung in the water. The swimmer behind him noticed and tapped him on the shoulder. There was no response and quickly realising that there was a problem she rolled him over and called for assistance. Others helped to remove him from the water. Resuscitation techniques were applied including a defibrillator. The casualty was taken to hospital and was reported to have been making a good recovery. This person had a history of heart problems.

January 2006 06/041
An instructor and two trainees entered the water to conduct controlled buoyant lift training. One trainee acted as the casualty for the first period of training. They rested, out of the water, for about 20 min and then began a second session. The other trainee acted as the casualty and lifted her buddy from 6m to the surface. At the surface she let go of her buddy and descended feet first to the bottom. The instructor followed her and found her slumped on the bottom, unconscious, with her regulator in her mouth and breathing. He lifted her to the surface with a controlled buoyant lift. At the surface she regained consciousness and the instructor and the other student towed her to the shore. No further actions were reported.

January 2006 06/040
A diver was loading diving cylinders into a metal storage cage. He put one cylinder in and as he was lifting the second one in the lid fell and hit him on the head. He sustained one major and several minor lacerations to his scalp. He went to the local A&E department for treatment.

February 2006 06/059
A group of five divers were diving on a wreck in a depth of 34m. One of the group noticed one of the others in difficulties near the shotline. She was inverted and apparently not breathing. This diver righted her, replaced her regulator and brought her to the surface, occasionally purging the regulator as he did so. At the surface he summoned assistance. They were recovered into the boat. The casualty's buddy had surfaced by this time. The emergency services were alerted and resuscitation techniques were applied. After about 5 min the casualty started to revive. She was placed on oxygen. The casualty, her buddy and the rescuer were airlifted to recompression facility where treatment was given. She made a full recovery. It was later found that she had become entangled in netting and fishing line which was on the wreck.

April 2006 06/216
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 21m. During the dive one of the pair indicated that he was cold and wanted to ascend. They ascended a shotline, making a 3 min safety stop at 6m. They swam to the shore and left the water. Once out of the water the diver who had complained of feeling cold stumbled, collapsed onto the ground and started to fit. He then stopped breathing. His jaw was locked shut so his buddy administered rescue breaths via his nose. The casualty took a few breaths and then stopped breathing again. His jaw had now relaxed and rescue breathing via the mouth was applied. Another person assisted and gave CPR. The emergency services responded and a defibrillator was used. The casualty was airlifted to hospital where he began a recovery.

April 2006 06/094
A diver completed one dive and in the afternoon was engaged in training drills from the shore. He was asked to move a buoyed shotline. With his buddy he swam on the surface to the buoy. He swam on his back. He became breathless and took his regulator out. On two occasions water broke over his head causing him to 'cough and splutter'. At the buoy they descended to the seabed at 6m and completed an uneventful dive. The following day he developed a cough. The next day he had flu-like symptoms. The day after that he felt unwell, he was short of breath, he struggled to climb stairs, he was coughing up froth, had hot and cold flushes and was shivering. The next day he went to his doctor and was treated for pulmonary oedema. Ten days later he was fully recovered.

April 2006 06/328
Ambulance control reported to Milford Haven Coastguard they had an ambulance en route to Dale jetty, where a diver had been taken by a dive boat. The ambulance control were not sure as to where the incident had happened but reported the casualty, 40 years old, to have ingested water and was now not very well. Dale CRT was called and found diver, had not actually dived but was on the surface preparing to dive when he felt unwell and tried to vomit. He was taken from the water immediately by the boat skipper and taken to shore with oxygen being administered. Ambulance crews assessed the casualty ashore and took him to the A and E department at Withybush hospital Haverfordwest. (Coastguard report).

April 2006 06/331
Dive vessel reported to Forth Coastguard having a diver aboard suffering from headaches after a 15m dive. The vessel returned to shore where it was met by a waiting ambulance, and Eyemouth Coastguard, the casualty was taken to the lifeboat station suffering from hypothermia, the casualty was treated on scene and released. (Coastguard report).

April 2006 06/245
A diver completed a 24 min dive to 25m with a 3 min safety stop at 6m. At 1m she started coughing. Whilst waiting to re-board the boat she continued coughing and had some difficulty breathing. She was helped back into the boat and to dekit. She continued to cough and produced blood stained sputum. She began to show signs of shock and was placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and the diver was airlifted to hospital. She was diagnosed with a pulmonary oedema. She was discharged the following day and made a full recovery.

April 2006 06/333
Holyhead Coastguard received a call of divers in difficulty close to rocks. Trearddur Bay lifeboat and inshore lifeboat proceeded recovering the divers, one of them required medical attention, the lifeboat returned to shore where it was met by Rhoscolyn Coastguard and an ambulance. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).

April 2006 06/335
Stornoway Coastguard received a call from a dive boat reporting having a diver aboard who had suffered a head injury, the vessel was met by Kyle Coastguard and an ambulance for transportation to hospital. (Coastguard report).

April 2006 06/416
Lifeboat launched to assist injured diver. (RNLI report).

May 2006 06/417
Lifeboat launched to help diver with illness. (RNLI report).

May 2006 06/101
An instructor and a trainee descended to a depth of 4m. At this point the trainee indicated that she wanted to ascend and she inflated her BCD. The instructor took control and they made a slow ascent to the surface. At the surface the trainee was distressed and the instructor towed her ashore. Once out of the water the trainee began to vomit frothy blood. The trainee was taken to hospital. She was found to be suffering from acute pulmonary oedema. It was found that she had a pre-existing heart condition that she was unaware of, and this may have been exacerbated by the cold water. She made a full recovery.

May 2006 06/419
Lifeboat launched to help diver with illness. (RNLI report).

May 2006 06/187
Three instructors and their trainees were engaged in a snorkel dive session. One instructor and three trainees swam to a buoy which was marking an underwater object and prepared to conduct some surface dives. The dive marshal of the group swam over and joined them. The dive marshal conducted the first dive. She dived down to the underwater object at a depth of 5m. She turned to come up but the rope of the buoy line caught on her fin strap and she could not surface. She signalled to the divers on the surface. The instructor swam down and helped her to the surface; on the way up the diver who had been caught in the rope lost consciousness. About 0.5m from the surface the rope pulled tight and held the unconscious diver below the surface. The instructor surfaced and two of the trainees held the unconscious diver's arm while the instructor dived again to try to free the rope. The third trainee swam for help. They managed to cut the rope and brought the casualty to the surface. She had been unconscious for between 1 and 2 min. At the surface they gave her rescue breaths and towed her to the shore. Once ashore she was given further rescue breaths and she started to breathe by herself. The emergency services were alerted. The diver was wrapped in blankets and placed on oxygen. She was airlifted to hospital and spent two days in an intensive care unit.

June 2006 06/248
An instructor and a trainee conducted training drills from a boat while two other trainees waited in the boat for their dive. One of the trainees had complained of feeling seasick while the first pair kitted and, while they were diving, he became unresponsive. He was placed in the recovery position and the boat returned to the shore. Once ashore the emergency services were alerted and the casualty was given oxygen. He was taken by ambulance to a playing field and then airlifted to hospital. It was discovered that his collapse was due to low blood sugar, dehydration, seasickness and anxiety. He was discharged later the same day.

June 2006 06/217
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 28m. The current was stronger than expected. They drifted for the first half of the dive and then turned around to make their way back. Finning against the current caused their breathing rate to rise. One of the pair wedged himself between two rocks and deployed a delayed SMB. The other diver finned hard to get to his buddy and to stay with him. He started to become breathless and felt that he could not fill his lungs sufficiently. He started to develop tunnel vision and his head began to 'fizz'. He got to his buddy, they started to ascend and his symptoms cleared once they started to drift with the current again. They left the water. The diver's breathlessness continued on land and during his next dive. He later sought medical advice and he was diagnosed as possibly mildly asthmatic and he was advised to take more exercise.

June 2006 06/120
A group of divers completed two sets of dives and were returning to shore in an RHIB. The RHIB was on the plane. One of the divers reached for his hat, the boat hit a wave, and he slipped and fell onto the cylinder rack and the cylinders. He complained of difficulty breathing. He was moved into a comfortable position and given oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and the group was met by an ambulance when they reached the shore. The casualty was taken to hospital and treated for a broken rib.

June 2006 06/342
Brixham Coastguard was alerted to a diver suffering from seasickness with symptoms of vomiting and hyperventilating with loss of feeling and tingling arms. The diver was transferred to DDRC Plymouth for observation and treatment. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).

June 2006 06/348
Portland Coastguard received a call from a diving vessel reporting an injury to a diver as he was entering the water from the vessel. Coastguard helicopter airlifted the casualty to Dorchester hospital landing site, where it was met by Wyke Coastguard and Dorset ambulance. (Coastguard report).

June 2006 06/197
Two RHIBs were on passage to an island for a training exercise. One of the boats, with three people on board, was travelling at about 25 knots when it hit a trough in the water. The people were thrown into the air and one landed heavily. He complained of a pain in his lower back. Once at the island one of the boats was moored and the injured passenger was laid down in this boat. The other divers went off to complete their emergency training exercise. This exercise involved a helicopter with a doctor on board. On completion of the exercise the doctor examined the injured person and he was airlifted back to the mainland. The injured person attended a hospital and diagnosed with a muscle injury.

June 2006 06/160
Two divers entered the water to dive to a maximum depth of 10m. One of the pair had abandoned an earlier dive due to anxiety, the dive leader had done a deep dive earlier in the day. During the dive the anxious diver gave an unclear signal to the dive leader who did not understand. The dive continued then the anxious diver signalled that he wanted to ascend and then immediately moved to the surface. The dive leader conducted a normal ascent including a 3 min stop at 5m because of her earlier deep dive. She kept an eye on the other diver who she could see on the surface above her. Once on the surface she found that the anxious diver was in difficulty because of an asthma attack. Both divers were recovered into the boat. They attempted to provide the asthma sufferer with oxygen but the dive group's oxygen cylinder was found to be empty and the boat's oxygen mask did not have an exhaust valve so the diver was not able to use it. The diver was not carrying his asthma medication. An ambulance met the group when the boat arrived back on shore. The diver was taken to hospital. It was later found that the troubled diver had been trying to signal that a seal was biting his fins and that this occurrence had caused him to have an asthma attack underwater, leading to his rapid ascent.

July 2006 06/351
Brixham Coastguard were alerted by a diving vessel by a 'Pan Pan' alert of a diver aboard suffering from cold sweats, coughing and vomiting following a 77m dive. The casualty was airlifted by RN rescue helicopter R-193 to DDRC Plymouth. (Coastguard report).

July 2006 06/150
The Coastguard was alerted when a diver surfaced unconscious. The casualty was placed on oxygen. A helicopter and a lifeboat were tasked to assist. The casualty and his buddy were airlifted to hospital. The casualty was conscious on arrival at hospital and was reported to be making a full recovery. The lifeboat escorted the dive boat back to the shore. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).

July 2006 06/158
A pair of divers conducted a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 22m. Towards the end of the dive they were unable to find the shotline and one of the pair prepared to deploy a delayed SMB. While he did so his buddy moved into a prone position seemingly looking at the wreck. The diver then realised that the prone diver was unconscious. He had his regulator still held in his mouth. The buddy immediately inflated the unconscious diver's drysuit and they both rose rapidly to the surface. At the surface the unconscious diver was recovered into the boat. During the recovery the SMB line became tangled in the boat's propeller and this had to be removed. Once aboard the boat the casualty recovered consciousness and he and his buddy were placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and a lifeboat was tasked to take the divers to a recompression facility. Both divers were given recompression treatment and released a day later. The diver who had fallen unconscious remembers having problems with buoyancy in his drysuit boots towards the end of the dive and having to hold onto the wreck to try to manage the problem, but nothing after that until he was being lifted back into the boat.

July 2006 06/355
Portland Coastguard were alerted to a diver who had been assisted to the surface by his two companions following a dive to 34m on nitrox 30, the diver has complained of a feeling of confusion at depth, there were symptoms of tingling in his arms and a feeling of general illness, the diving doctor recommended an airlift to recompression chamber for observation and possible treatment. One buddy accompanied the casualty to the chamber, no further treatment given. (Coastguard report).

July 2006 06/190
Two divers conducted a 20 min dive to a maximum depth of 6m. Upon surfacing one of the pair was disorientated and was sick. She was placed on oxygen. She was sick again. She was given advice on how to seek further medical support and she went home.

July 2006 06/180
A diver dived to 8m for 21 min. 1 hour 59 min later he dived to 6m. During this dive he became unwell and the dive was aborted. His dive time was 18 min. At the surface the diver recovered quickly. It is thought that the cause was impure air in his cylinder.

July 2006 06/364
Portland Coastguard received a call from a diving vessel reporting a diver aboard feeling unwell following a normal ascent from a 30m dive, the casualty complained of suffering from headaches post dive, this one was particularly severe, Portland Coastguard connected the dive vessel with a diving doctor for medical advice, the advice was to return to shore and seek medical advice at a later date. (Coastguard report).

July 2006 06/369
Milford Haven Coastguard received a call from a diving vessel reporting having a diver aboard who had swallowed a large quantity of water whilst on descent, the diver immediately ascended and was recovered into the diving vessel, the vessel returned to shore and was met by an ambulance paramedic and later discharged, Fishguard Coastguard also attended this incident. (Coastguard report).

July 2006 06/182
A diver was engaged in a deep diving course. She dived to 21m for 29 min with a 3 min stop at 5m. Then she dived to 28m for 22 min with a 3 min stop at 5m. The following day she dived to 34m for 22 min. Immediately after this third dive the diver was sick. No other symptoms were experienced and no further actions were reported.

August 2006 06/175
A diver completed a 30 min dive to a maximum depth of 22m. On surfacing he felt exhausted and had a headache. He was laid down and given oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and the casualty was given water and some food, as he complained of feeling hungry. Once the boat reached the shore the casualty was taken by ambulance to hospital. After some food and rest he made a full recovery and was discharged from hospital later that day.

August 2006 06/224
A diver banged her head prior to a dive. She dived with her buddy to 48m for 44 min with a 13 min stop at 6m. During the ascent, at a depth of 15m, she developed a headache. The headache continued after the dive and she did not take part in a planned second dive. At the end of the day the headache persisted and she sought advice from a recompression facility. They advised her to go onto oxygen and attend the facility. She did as suggested but tests revealed no symptoms of DCI.

August 2006 06/373
Shetland Coastguard was requested to have an ambulance standing by for a diver who had surfaced with a severe headache. (Coastguard report).

August 2006 06/184
A diver was engaged in a training course. He conducted a 25 min dive to a maximum depth of 12m then, after a 1 hour 30 min interval, he dived to a maximum depth of 6m. He practiced ascending using an alternative air source. At the surface he lost consciousness and stopped breathing. He was recovered from the water and oxygen assisted resuscitation techniques were applied. After 4 min he recovered consciousness. An ambulance attended but the casualty refused to go to hospital. He saw his doctor later that day. The casualty reported that he was taking medication for high blood pressure but he had not declared any health problems in his medical form and had not told the dive school.

August 2006 06/439
Two lifeboats launched to help diver with illness. (RNLI report).

August 2006 06/206
A diver conducted a 27 min dive to 32m with a 2 min stop at 6m. 5 hours later she dived to 32m for 33 min with a 3 min stop at 6m and a 1 min stop at 3m. At the end of this dive she climbed the ladder onto the boat and then collapsed on to the deck. She was breathless, incoherent and unable to stand. Her diving equipment was removed. Her lips and fingertips showed signs of cyanosis. She was moved into the cabin and placed on oxygen. After 10 min the cyanosis diminished and she became coherent and responsive. She remained on oxygen for a further 20 min by which time she was fully recovered. She did not make any further dives and planned to seek further medical advice.
August 2006 06/226
Two divers entered the water and started their descent down a shotline. An RHIB from another party ran over the top of the divers and one of them was struck on the leg by the propeller. The divers surfaced and were recovered into the boat that had hit them. The boat's engine had been in neutral at the time of the impact and the diver only suffered bruising. After a rest they completed the dive.

August 2006 06/446
A number of divers were using a buoy line connected to a wreck to make their ascent. There was a slight swell and the buoy line was moving up and down. One of the divers who was holding on to this line suffered a dislocated shoulder. He was helped back to the boat and dekitted in the water. Whilst in the water the diver was able to relocate his shoulder. The condition was as a result of an old injury; it had become dislocated on a number of earlier occasions and he had learned how to resolve the condition himself. He suffered no subsequent ill effects.

August 2006 06/390
Milford Haven Coastguard was alerted to a diver who had a suspected broken ankle following a fall on the slipway, Dale Coastguard attended the scene, the casualty was airlifted by air ambulance to hospital. (Coastguard report).

September 2006 06/395
Portland Coastguard were alerted to a diver aboard a dive vessel unconscious on the surface with CPR being administered, Portland Coastguard scrambled R-WB to airlift the casualty to hospital, and then on to recompression chamber, both HLS sites were made ready by Poole and Wyke Coastguard teams. (Coastguard report).

September 2006 06/210
A diver was preparing to enter the water when he slipped on rocks and broke his leg. The emergency services were alerted and the diver was taken by lifeboat to a beach and from there he was airlifted to hospital for treatment. (Media report).

September 2006 06/399
Solent Coastguard received a call from a diving vessel reporting having a diver aboard experiencing problems, the casualty was connected via a medi-link call to a diving doctor, the advice was to steam into port and be met by an ambulance and Hillhead Coastguard. (Coastguard report).

September 2006 06/405
Portland Coastguard, connected the dive vessel with a diving doctor for medical advice concerning a diver suffering from seasickness, the advice was to monitor the diver, no signs of DCI developed, no further action taken. (Coastguard report).