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> Hi folks... I was at a caving shop in Swansea (UK) last week and >heard >about a fatality that happened the weekend before. Apparently, a >diver >(probably English-style sidemounting) drowned in a shallow >10-metre long sump, >after running out of air... It seemed a lot of >strange, as the guys in the shop >said that it is not a restricted >sump... any more news or info?? Danilo Yes, I know a bit more, though not many details - it happened over the new year holiday, and everyone I know (inc. me) first heard about it from concerned relatives.. The diver reportedly had a reasonable level of experience. He wasn't a CDG member, but had applied to join. He was diving with a much more experienced diver at a site whose name escapes me, and which I haven't visited. However, I know the general area and the cave type in that area, and it's likely that many divers would regard it as somewhat restricted --- it certainly would not be passable without side mounts, however that in itself would not make the sump "restricted" in our view, since it applies to almost everything. Both divers passed the sump on the way in, no problems, and spent some time beyond --- presumably digging. On the way out, the more experienced diver went first, and waited for the other. After a short time, he became concerned and went back to look. He found the victim almost immediately (i.e. near the start of the sump), and pulled him from the sump (so it couldn't have been that tight). He tried CPR for some time, and then called South Wales Cave Rescue. No divers were involved in the recovery, which took some time because of the nature of the (dry) entrance passage. Reportedly both cylinders were empty, and the [yoke] valves "loose" - but then that's to be expected with empty cylinders in the circumstances. The CDG Welsh Section AGM is at the end of the month, when I'll find out more I expect. This ends a 24yr fatality-free run for cave diving in S. Wales. Neal PS Danilo, nice to here that someone is visiting us - what shop were you in? Dragon I guess? Dr Neal Harman Dept. of Computer Science, UW Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP Tel: +44 1792 295394 N.A.Harman@sw*.ac*.uk* Fax: +44 1792 295708 <http://www.swan.ac.uk/compsci/AllStaff/NAH.html>
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