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John Todd-- Your 1st question: >so chris,what happened at eagles nest? I wrote a rather stream of consciousness account for the NACD Journal, as soon after the incident as I could manage (about a week), with as much detail as I could remember. It was published in NACD Journal, Vol. 22, #4, July/Aug./Sept. Issue, 1990. If you don't have access to that report here's a brief that might help someone understand how shit like this happens: Aug.5, 1990, almost precisely 6 years before the latest incident. BP, 29 yrs, about 6' 2" and 170lbs, runner and weight-trainer, several years as regularly diving caver,the more experienced cave diver of a 2-man video team. CB, 39 yrs, about 6'1" and 160lbs, pack-a-day smoker, 1.5 yrs in the sport. Neither are support or expl. members of project. Had dived twice the day before, to 150 and 175 ft. Task load: BP -- swimming double 80's with air, and 2 100W lights, to light subject divers on scooters. CB, swimming double 80's with air, camera, and a primary light Plan: Leave surface 2 min. prior to scooter divers' entrance, position ourselves at 150ft. and 175ft., videotape expl. team approaching and entering tunnel entr. (200ft.), and show them receding away, down the tunnel. Begin ascent immediately on completion of the shot and fart around on the way up. Chronology: Tape start (from 175ft., and approx. 3 min. into dive) shows subjects on scooters descending from ceiling of cavern with BP following. Subjects and vid team arrive at tunnel entrance. Expl. divers align together, trade OK signals, and scooter away into tunnel until no longer visible. BP is behind and slightly shallower than CB, shining lights on subjects throughout sequence. Camera shut-off is approx. 8 min. from camera start. Begin ascent. Time into dive is now approx. 10-12 min. CB turns and begins slow ascent, passing under and behind BP. After rising a few fin kicks, CB looks back to check with BP and sees that BP is neutral in a vertical position, still facing tunnel. CB wags light at BP, and getting no response notices that BP's lights are not in his hands. CB swims to BP who is still facing away, and upon going in front of him, discovers he has no reg. in his mouth. A brief unsuccessful attempt to push reg. into BP's mouth is followed by beginning of controlled, consciously paced swimming ascent, CB pulling BP by shoulder strap. Assumption at this point is that bends hit is probable for both, but resuscitation may still be possible. CB attempts as fast as poss. ascent and pace while monitoring for signs of over-breathing or other developing problems that might be counter-productive and result in a double drowning. Amount of time to reach surface is unknown -- estimated to be as long as 5 min. At surface, calls for help result in two divers swimming to center of pond and proceeding to remove BP's gear while swimming him to shore. CB discards his gear in water and follows immediately. At shore, one diver brings an O2 bottle w/reg.to CB and victim, then takes auto to nearest phone to get assistance. CB and other diver pull BP a few feet away from water, roll him over to evacuate any water in lungs, check for clear passages, get no water, roll him on his back again, check for clear passages again, and begin CPR. CB applies MtoM, while second diver applies heart massage. Every few breaths, CB takes O2 breaths from bottle and uses them during MtoM as well. Attempt continues steadily for approx. 25 min., until EMT's arrive, and they pronounce BP dead. About 3 months after the incident, his house buddy stated that BP, in the weeks prior to these dives, had several incidents that BP termed "day-dreams", where he spaced out at his desk at work or at home, for an unknown duration, and couldn't remember what he had been doing. Three days prior BP driving us from Tally to EN to dive, he had put his van in a ditch and couldn't remember how he got there. No one but his roommate knew about these events, which are second-hand info, prior to the dive. The parallels and differences between this one and the recent one are interesting to compare and helpful to consider. I've had 6 years so far to think over this. It gives me a possibly unique appreciation and admiration for what Jj and compadres accomplished. And John Todd, as for your 2nd question: >how did you manage to kill a >guy? If I ever have the misfortune of meeting you, I will ask you if you want to repeat that question in the same words, or apologize. Sincerely, Christopher A. Brown Sci-Graphica PR and DOCENT FILMS The Technical Diving Video Library (TDVL) (N.Am. & Canada): 1-800-373-7222 Outside US:904-942-7222 Fax:904-942-1240 Life is short -- this is not a rehearsal.
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