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This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------25CE603B7ED Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Read this , and maybe some of the real strokes can get on here and sort this one out for us. --------------25CE603B7ED Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Return-Path: <karol.toth@si*.at*> Delivered-To: kirvine@sa*.ne* Received: (qmail 15546 invoked from network); 9 Dec 1999 11:39:10 -0000 Received: from zwei.siemens.at (193.81.246.12) by mail1.safari.net with SMTP; 9 Dec 1999 11:39:10 -0000 Received: from vies194a.sie.siemens.at (root@fi* [10.1.140.1]) by zwei.siemens.at with ESMTP id MAA16619 for <kirvine@sa*.ne*>; Thu, 9 Dec 1999 12:40:46 +0100 (MET) Received: by vies194a.sie.siemens.at with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) id <YHZV69GG>; Thu, 9 Dec 1999 12:39:08 +0100 Message-ID: <D53137D1F3DDD211A3750800060DA313010184DA@vi*.er*.si*.at*> From: Toth Karol <karol.toth@si*.at*> To: "'IRVINE, George'" <kirvine@sa*.ne*> Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 12:39:08 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi George, I have got an diving accident report yesterday. Maybe it is interesting = for the WKPP/GUE statistics. The first part of it is a classic example where "personal preference = gear" and diving air=20 below 40msw (130ft) leads not only by the "tek-divers". It takes his = toll worldwide. The second part, beginning with the "Emergency chain" chapter, = describes what does it mean=20 to dive in a third world country even in a "divers paradise" what Egypt undoubtedly is. I do not know the victim in person but got the report from one of the involved divers and=20 translated the original official report ( written in German ) into = English only. All units are metric.=20 Hope it is readable. The downloaded "dive-computer" data are converted = into a .jpg format file as attachment. The profile speaks for himself. Charlie Vienna/Austria Here the story goes : Accident Report Place : Daedalus Reef ( Abu El Khizan, Red Sea ) - East side Country : Egypt Date : October 27th, 1999 Time : 11:30 A.M. Boat : Shalkamy Explorer I. Weather : Clear Sky Air temperature : 32=B0C Water temperature : 28=B0C Visibility under water : 35-40m (horizontal) Victim's personal data : Name : XXXX ( withheld , but known ) Birth date : May 13-th, 1960 Sex : male Certification : PADI Advanced Open Water Dive experience : app. 150 open water dives in Croatia, Spain, Red Sea Victim's dive equipment : Tanks : 2 independent 12 liter Aluminum ( filled with compressed AIR ) Regulators :left tank - Apeks TX50 right tank - Apeks TX100 with Octopus and inflator LP hose Buoyancy device : Subgear "wing style" jacket ( 30liter ) with = integrated weight Suit : Eques Ultimate 7mm semi-dry neoprene overall without hood Weight : 10 kg Accident description : After a dive in the morning and a following surface interval of app. 3 hours,=20 the victim joined a group of 3 other divers. They went from the = anchoring boat=20 to the east side of the Daedalus reef with a Zodiac to dive. After = entering the=20 water and diving to a depth of 40m, the victim separated from the rest = of the group.=20 >From this point on there is no eyewitness, therefore what had happened = after the separation is based on the victim's later statements, downloaded = data from=20 his dive computer and equipment check after the dive. The victim's description of the accident after he separated from the = group: After entering the water the victim noticed no current and swam away = from=20 the reef ( and the rest of the group ) to look after sharks in the = clear blue water.=20 He went deeper and deeper and suddenly noticed a fast pressure drop in = his right tank.=20 He was not able to determine the reason and after a short period of = time he run out=20 of air in his right tank, loosing the ability to inflate the = jacket/wing with the inflator. He wanted to switch to his second regulator ( connected to his left = tank ) but was=20 not able to reach it. During his unsuccessful attempts he dropped to a = depth below 80m.=20 He tried to pull out his jacket and reach the second stage. He finally = made it but after=20 the first breaths ( compressed air ) he was fully stricken by the = nitrogen narcosis.=20 " An invisible hand wanted to pull me into a big black hole !" he said later. In absolute=20 fear he began to swim to the surface holding the jacket in his hands. Reaching 60m the jacket regained some buoyancy. The victim was not able to stop the fast ascent which followed because=20 he hang with one arm in the jacket and the inflator and the dump valves = were out of his reach. Within 1 minute he surfaced. On the surface he managed to put the = jacket on and submerged again. A few seconds later he ran out of air in his left tank, too. At that = moment he saw one of the=20 other divers (Robert) and began to swim towards him. Robert hadn't = seen the victim because=20 the victim had been behind him. Finally the victim reached Robert. The following statements are based on the reports of the victim and the other involved divers as well : Robert realized the critical situation immediately and passed his left = tank regulator to the victim. =20 Robert was diving independent 2 x 12l, too, and had app. 150 bar left = in his left tank. After a=20 few minutes later, the victim signalized to Robert that he didn't feel = his legs. During the next 25 minutes, Robert was with the victim on his own and tried to keep him comfortable = in a depth varying between 6-8 m.=20 After 25 minutes both Robert's tanks were empty. Fortunately at that = moment two other divers=20 ( Matthias and Nicole ), each equipped with independent doubles = partially full, came around so the emergency decompression could be continued. Robert emerged and signaled to the = boat for emergency. As the dive guide=20 and another diver (Arno) arrived, the tanks of Matthias and Nicole were nearly empty. Arno together with=20 the dive guide brought the victim to 23m and maintaining this depth = they swam back to the boat. They wanted=20 to start a deeper recompression but during the transport to the boat = the victim signalized a progression of=20 numbness in his legs so the deeper IWR idea was abandoned. Instead, = they took the decision to bring the victim to the surface after a 90min IWR. In the meantime Nicole informed the 3 medical doctors on the boat and=20 arranged an oxygen treatment. Immediately after surfacing near the boat = the victim was lifted onto the deck and the doctors began the following treatment : 13:00 Start of treatment 100% oxygen for 45min ( with 10 min breaks ) 500mg Solu-Dacortin (equals to Prednisolon =3D cortison ) intravenous 500mg Ringer Lactat intravenous 13:10 1000mg Acetylsalicyl acid (peroral) 13:20 Pulse 80/min, RR palp 90 Neurological status : Paraplegia and Dysaesthesia of both legs, sensitivity niveau : TH12 =09 13:25 125mg Urbason ( Methylprednisolon ) intravenous 1000mg Acetylsalicyl acid (peroral) 13:30 Neurological status : without change 13:45 10 minutes oxygen break - begin 13:50 Pulse 64/min, RR palp 150 "Babinsky" both sides 13:55 10 minutes oxygen break - end 125mg Urbason ( Methylprednisolon ) intravenous pain in the chest =3D> 1 ampoule Tramal, subcutal 14:15 Neurological status : got worser =3D sensitivity in the legs drops,=20 Paraplegia RR palp 140 14:25 80mg Solu-Volon A ( =3D 216mg Prednisolon ) 14:45 10 minutes oxygen break - begin 14:55 10 minutes oxygen break - end 15:00 Neurological status : worser than at 14:15 15:30 Neurological status : identical to 15:00, RR palp 130, Pulse 64/min 15:40 10 minutes oxygen break - begin 15:50 10 minutes oxygen break - end 16:35 10 minutes oxygen break - begin 16:45 10 minutes oxygen break - end 17:00 Neurological status : worser, sensitivity niveau TH6, RR palp 140, Pulse 64/min 17:10 1000mg Acetylsalicyl acid (peroral) 40mg Losec (peroral) 30mg Vitamine-E (peroral) 17:30 10 minutes oxygen break - begin 17:40 10 minutes oxygen break - end 18:25 10 minutes oxygen break - begin 18:30 5mg Baralgin (intramuscular) Ulcogant (=3D Sucralfat ) (peroral) Neurological status : better , sensitivity niveau 7.ICR 18:35 10 minutes oxygen break - end 19:20 100% Oxygen supply exhausted, continued with 40% Nitrox 20:10 Neurological status : without change, RR palp 150, Pulse 64/min,=20 Respiration freq. 12-16 per minute 23:55 500mg Parkemed ( Mefenumic acid ) 05:15 Pulse 64/min, RR palp 150 Neurological status : without change, Paraplegia, sensitivity niveau 7.ICR Victims dive equipment check : After handing over the victim to the doctors, a check of his diving equipment was made with the=20 following results : - right tank empty, 0 bar - left tank empty, 0 bar - right post regulator ( with an octopus and connected LP-inflator ), working - right SPG =3D OK - "octopus" second stage squeezed between the tank and the jacket - left post regulator working but mounted up side down - left SPG =3D OK - jacket OK, all buckles and releases OK - buoyancy device ( "wing style" ), without leaks - diving computer locked in the "Deco Error" mode, otherwise OK Based on the victim's report and equipment check, the following = scenario of the accident is possible : The sudden and fast pressure drop in the right tank can be explained by = the octopus squeezed between=20 the tank and the buoyancy device. As the victim began to inflate his = jacket, in greater depths, the=20 "wing" pressed the octopus against the tank and it came to a freeflow. = In depths below 40m, combined=20 with the simultaneous breathing from the regulator, it can empty the = tank very quickly, making further=20 inflation of the jacket impossible as well. On the left tank, the = upside down mounted regulator=20 ( I.- stage with the rotating LP outlets pointing down ) prevented a = quick access to the second stage=20 whose LP hose ran between the victim's back and the jacket. Probably = this misplacement happened during=20 the gear-up on the boat. The diveprofile ( downloaded from the victim's computer, the SUUNTO = "locks" at 99m ) : included as a .JPEG image file in the attachment The emergency chain : 13:10 First RF contact with the Saudi Arabian freighter "Dahab". Description of the accident and request to alarm the Coast Guard ( Egyptian). Request for a helicopter. 13:30 Response from the "Dahab": Helicopter rescue granted. "Dahab" = will stay in close proximity until=20 victim's transport by the helicopter. 14:30 New inquiry about the helicopter. Because there is no quick = answer from "Dahab", RF contacts the=20 Egyptian officials based on the Daedalus reef. They grant a rescue by helicopter, too. The boat=20 receives the order to stay at its present position and wait for the helicopter. Arrival time just a few minutes. 14:45 New inquiry about the helicopter. Answer : The helicopter must be there in 5-10 minutes. 15:20 New inquiry about the helicopter. RF contact to Radio Port Said ( = a sea-distress station ?) now.=20 Answer : The helicopter hasn't started, waiting for take-off permission from Cairo. 15:45 Helicopter got the take-off permission, already started, arrival time 20 minutes. 16:30 New inquiry about the helicopter. Answer : The helicopter has to = be prepared, will start in 5 minutes. 17:10 New inquiry about the helicopter. Answer from Radio Port Said : Helicopter is on the way. In the=20 meantime RF contact to the medical doctor on the "Dahab" to get additional support for the victim's=20 treatment. Telephone contact (provided by Radio Port Said) to an Egyptian official on the mainland=20 ( in Ras Banas ? ) and to the helicopter pilot (?) too, both grant the helicopter rescue in a few minutes. 17:20 Sunset. New inquiry about the helicopter. Answer : The helicopter can not start, it doesn't have=20 a permission for a night flight. 18:10 The permission for the night flight approved. Helicopter will = start now. 19:00 New inquiry about the helicopter. Answer : The helicopter can not start, it is not equipped for night flights. It will come in the morning. The following additional attempts to get a private helicopter failed.=20 RF contact to El Gouna: the pilot is not available. Contact to the Swedish embassy, no responsible person present. The request to Radio Port Said to call "DAN Europe" was refused because an international call=20 ( to Switzerland )would be to costly. 19:30 Radio Port Said didn't respond anymore, neither did "Dahab". The Egyptian officials on the Daedalus reef didn't respond too. No contact to other ships. Arno gave the order to the captain of the boat to leave. Destination Marsa Galeb, travel = time 10 hours. During the whole time the crew tried to contact other ships = and/or the coast guard on all frequencies - without success. Even sending two times a sea distress call was not answered. 05:30 Next day in the morning, arrival in Marsa Galeb. Four other boats anchored in the port. The "Sea Fair" supplied=20 the victim with new oxygen. The captain of the "Sea Fun" volunteered to bring the victim to the decompression=20 chamber in Hurghada with his private car immediately. 06:00 The victim was carried onto land and oxygen for treatment was = loaded during the transport. One of the medical=20 doctors and the dive guide accompanied the victim on his way to Hurghada. 06:15 Transport to Hurghada started 09:30 Arrival in hospital in Hurghada 10:30 Begin of treatment The decompression chamber in Hurghada : There was no Helium available for the treatment. It had been attempted = to obtain Helium via Cairo from Vienna/Austria (2500km away), with success. Unfortunately the crew at the = decompression chamber had no clue how to provide a Helium=20 treatment - what led to additional delays. The Sharm el Sheikh ( = another decompression chamber facility in Egypt )=20 doctors provided remote support for the chamber crew in Hurghada. In = the meantime the transport of the victim from Egypt to Europe from Vienna/Austria was organized. The victim's treatment in the chamber of Hurghada, not to mention the technical/medical problems, was totally dishonest. The victim, who had lost control over his defecation functions, was = pulled over the floor through his own feces out=20 of the chamber into a bathroom. The transport: Organizing the victim's transport to Europe the ambulance jet from Vienna/Austria arrived in Hurghada. After the victim's boarding, the Egyptian officials refused to give the start permission = for over 5 hours - until financial guarantees for=20 the "helicopter rescue" (which never took place), were granted ! That is so much ironical because, if the helicopter rescue would have = taken place, the victim could have left the country=20 on his own feet! All doctors consulted afterwards said that the = paraplegia would have been reversible, if the victim=20 would have got a proper hyperbaric treatment in a decompression chamber within 8 hours! --------------25CE603B7ED-- -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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