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To: techdiver@terra.net
Subject: Fwd: MD Diver Killed in Accident
From: CONWAYJD@ef*.ef*.na*.na*.mi* (Conway, John)
Date: 13 Jun 96 09:54:19 EDT
FYI



The local Morehead City, NC,  newspaper reported on June 7, the death of 

Doug Summerhill, described as a deep water diver from Maryland.  
According 

to the published account "Mr. Summerhill, 32, blacked out while ascending 


from a deep water, mixed gas technical dive".  He was reported to have 
been 

diving on the Panamanian tanker, Pan Am, sunk in 1943, in 470 feet of 
water 

by a German U-boat.    Apparently he was an experienced deep diver who 
had 

made several dives over 400 feet.  The dive in question was made by two 

divers with three support divers.  The dive plan was 10 minutes to 
decend, 

seven minutes on the bottom, and two hours to ascend.  Ascent bubbles 
were 

seen - then the captain noticed that there were not enough bubbles for 
two 

divers.  He got in the water, went to 130 feet and saw Mr. Summerhill's 
dive 

buddy only.  The Coast Guard and other nearby charter boats joined in a 

search but no body was located.  An interesting quote from the captain 
was 

". . . there was nothing the other dive [sic] or the support divers could 


do.  At this depth with this type dive, you are self contained and self 

supporting," he said.  "Unfortunately, if there's a problem at a depth 
you 

can't help the other person, both would end up as casualties.  The one 
thing 

about this type diving is that your own".



I'am sure that all of us, as divers, feel a great deal of empathy for the 


friends and family of Mr. Summerhill.  At least he died a painless death 

doing something he loved.  Hopefully this incident, or similar incidents, 
 

will not be the impetus for Government and/or self imposed regulation of 

sport diving by "do gooders".  It would be nice if, in the long run, our 

society maintains a level of level of freedom whereby we as individuals 
can 

make our own risk management decisions.  The trend seems to be going in 
the 

other direction.



A memorial sevice in MD and an offshore memorial are planned.  No 
specifics, 

e.g., time, date, etc. were mentioned.



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