WIREDGOV

Humber Coastguard have been co-ordinating assistance to a 49 year old male diver this afternoon who, it was reported, was unconscious and very poorly after returning from his dive. He had no particular medical history and he had dived to 13 metres over 30 minutes. It was his second dive of the day.

The initial call was received by the marine emergency service at 12.45 this afternoon from the dive boat ‘Glad Tidings’ which was near the Farne Islands at the time and had plucked the diver from the water. The diver had been diving from another vessel, the ‘Ocean Explorer’ out of Beadnell.

The call described the diver as not breathing, and being treated by a GP who was also in the dive party on board.

The Seahouses RNLI lifeboat was immediately asked to launch and a rescue helicopter R131 was scrambled from RAF Boulmer. The local Coastguard Team was also asked to turn out to man the helicopter landing site at Wansbeck hospital.

The Coastguard at Humber then took further advice from the on duty Surgeon Commander at the Institute of Naval Medicine and the Hyperbaric Unit as to the on board divers condition and it was agreed that he would be initially taken to the A&E Department at Wansbeck Hospital, but that the decompression chamber at Hull be alerted in case he needed to be transported there.

By 11 minutes past 2.00 pm he had been winched aboard the helicopter and was being flown to hospital.

Bev Allen, Duty Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard said

“It appears that the first dive was aborted, and the second was uneventful, but he was then seen to be struggling on the surface. He became unconscious and was given cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 2-3 minutes. Fortunately this proved successful and he began breathing on his own. He became gradually alert and responded to voices. The dive boat then began slowly moving south at around ten knots in order to meet the rescue units.

After some time being treated at the A&E Department, the medical authorities advised us he needed to go urgently to the Hull decompression chamber and he was airlifted at around 4.30 this afternoon. Given the circumstances this chap has had a remarkable recuperation and we wish him well and hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery. Our thanks are due to the rescue units who turned out so speedily.”

Notes to Editors

• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector. www.seavisionuk.org

• • Stay safe - before heading out on the water get trained, check weather and tides, wear a lifejacket, avoid alcohol and keep in touch

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Contacts:

Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office
Phone: 023 8032 9401
NDS.MCGA@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Mark Clark.
Phone: 023 8032 9414
Mobile: 07711 002678
mark.clark@mcga.gov.uk