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From:  Steve Minne
To: Richard Pyle
Subject:  Conclusion
Date:  Wednesday, 26/11/97


It is nice to see some logic thought amongst the majority of garbage I have
read since the TDI death in South Africa. I have been involved in diving
for 28 years and hold a commercial mixed gas certification and am a
technical instructor trainer, and director of TDI in South Africa.

I have remained in the closet as far as the death of student and friend
Hennie Pretorius is concerned.  Due to the fact that the slinging of abuse
has never been my forte.  I do however believe that after the investigation
of this accident I am none the wiser.  The "Shit Happens" attitude does not
work for me and I feel that something should be learned out of this
incident.  

Instead of insults and abuse, I would like some valid statements to be made
to try and prevent any further such incidents.

The treatment of the victim in my book was incorrectly done, as an 18m O2
schedule on 106m dive where the diver surfaces and loses consciousness
after three minutes, does not make sense to me.  I did however request for
the victim to be taken down further, when there was no improvement after an
hour.  I was told that the doctor in charge had strict orders to stick to
his schedule.  

The mixed gas diving community in South Africa is very small and therefore
the knowledge of doctors to treat mixed gas incidents is obviously lacking.
 At the outopsy I requested photographs to be taken of all the relevant
body parts.  This was done, but we are now denied access to these.  I
believe a cover up on the medical side.  If you have any thoughts on the
matter, let me know.  I have the full accident report and will give you all
the relevant information that you require.

Steve
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