Western 073/01
3 June 2001
DIVER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL WITH SUSPECTED BENDS
Swansea Coastguard began assisting a diver with suspected
decompression sickness ('bends') at just before midday on 3 June 2001
after they received a request for assistance from the dive charter vessel,
'Compass Rose'.
A group had been diving a mile south of Lundy Island when the diver
re-surfaced from a 20 metre dive. He was in pain, had a blue face, and had
difficulties breathing.
The skipper of ‘Compass Rose’ immediately contacted Swansea
Coastguard who put him in contact, via a teleconnect, with a doctor at the
Institute of Naval medicine in Gosport. After discussing the symptoms with
the skipper the doctor advised that a decompression unit should be
prepared and the casualty airlifted to hospital.
Swansea Coastguard requested Rescue helicopter 193 from RNAS Culdrose to
scramble and for the Clovelly Lifeboat to launch and attend the scene.
When the lifeboat arrived, the diver was transferred over and the casualty
then winched up from the lifeboat into the helicopter and airlifted to
safety.
Lou Knill, Acting Watch Manager for Swansea Coastguard said, "The
casualty has now been taken to Derriford Hospital Accident and Emergency
Department in Plymouth and will then be transferred on to a decompression
unit if the initial telephone diagnosis is correct. Conditions for the
operation were good with southwesterly force 4 winds, good visibility, and
slight sea. The skipper and crew of the ‘Compass Rose’ are to be
commended for their quick action in contacting the Coastguard once the
symptoms of blue face and difficulty breathing were noticed since speed is
of the essence in these cases."
