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Some time ago I mentioned that a rebreather diver had died here in 
British Columbia.  Several people asked about the details of this 
death but at the time of posting I did not have these details.  
Well I have finally gotten a report and it is included below:


UCBC RECORD NUMBER: 86-2C             AGE: 32                   SEX:   M

CAUSE OF DEATH:                      Drowning
Due to:                                             Hypoxia
Contributing condition:                 Commercial diving accident

Autopsy:  Yes

An underwater cinematographer had been diving for five years on a rebreather
without formal training in its use.  It was his third dive of the day.  The
first two dives were both at 15 feet for 2-4 minutes.  He entered the water
from a tended zodiac which moved 100 yeards away while he waited.  After 20
minuttes a pod of killer whales approached and the diver submerged to film
them in six feeet of water.  However the whales turned around and he
surfaced but sank immediately.  He was rescued by the boat tender who
carried out CPR and radioed for help. The decedent was evacuated to a local
hospital where he was promounced DOA.

The deceased had been diving with the 100% oxygen in both tanks.  One tank
was empty and the oxygen bypass valve was found to be blocked.  The second
tank had a low oxygen pressure (1100psi) due to filling of the rebreather
tanks form a larger tank which had been partially depleted.  There was no
oxygen pressure gauge on the rebreather unit.  The decedent appeared to be
unaware of the procedure of emptying the counterlung of air before diving to
clear out accumulated nitrogen.  This standard procedure eliminates
dilutional hypoxia.

CORONER'S RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the rebreather be offered to the Fleet Diving Unit as a display.  This
will remove the set from use and possible avert another tragedy.  Secondly,
that the associations of sports divers in Canada receive a copy of this
report

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