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You wanted the facts. . . Here they are!

On Saturday, August 30, I was on Darryl Ertel's boat, "Hang Time".  All
weekend we had been having electrical problems.  Our first dive on
Saturday was on the "Vienna".  Upon completion of the dive, the boat
wouldn't start.  Jack Spencer of "Wreck Quest" came out and brought us a
battery and jump started us. We went on to the "Sadie Thompson" for our
second dive, with all electrical instruments, including radio, turned
off to conserve battery power.  Because it was rough that day, the bouy
line on the "Sadie T" broke.  We fortunately got the engine started and
came in slowly.  We entered the harbor and tied onto one of the fishing
boats.  As we were tying up, the "Hang Time" gel coat was damaged when 
"SCUBA Tank" came into the harbor at full speed, its wake forcing "Hang
Time" to crash into the fishing boat. "SCUBA Tank" tied up at the dock 
immediately, while "Hang Time" remained tied and out of the way the
entire time.

Steve Ouellette came over to help tie us up, and sent me (I'm an EMT) 
to check on an injured diver on "SCUBA Tank." This was the first
we knew of a problem. I ran over and found that there was an EMT from
Paradise Ambulance already treating the diver, so I wasn't needed. 

Upon learning that "SCUBA Tank" had left a diver decompressing on the
"Zillah", Darryl tried again to start "Hang Time", but could not. 
"SCUBA Tank" remained tied to the dock while the diver was being treated
by the Ambulance crew, and was tied there for an extended period of time
after the diver was taken in the ambulance.  

I have known Darryl Ertel for several years.  He is a very responsible
diver.  I know that if he could have gotten the "Hang Time" started, it
would have been the first boat out of the harbor.

Todd Wright

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