John Lippmann1, Chris Lawrence2, Andrew Fock3, Thomas Wodak4, Scott Jamieson5. 1. Executive Director, Divers Alert Network (DAN) Asia-Pacific, doctoral candidate, Deakin University, Melbourne, P O Box 384, Ashburton VIC 3147, Australia, Phone: +61-(0)3-9886-9166, Fax: +61-(0)3-9886-9155, E-mail: johnl@danasiapacific.org. 2. Director, Statewide Forensic Medical Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania. 3. Senior specialist for the Hyperbaric Service, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. 4. Retired County Court judge and a past dive instructor. 5. Researcher, DAN Asia-Pacific.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported as occurring in Australia in 2009 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific Dive Fatality Reporting Project. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided. RESULTS: In total, there were 21 reported fatalities (two more than in 2008), including 18 males and three females. Twelve deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, eight while scuba diving and one while using surface-supply breathing apparatus. Apneic hypoxia continues to be a problem with breath-hold divers and appears to have caused the death of three victims in this series. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have been the disabling injury in the deaths of at least three snorkel divers and at least three scuba divers. One of the victims was a student who became separated from her instructor on an introductory scuba dive in poor visibility. CONCLUSIONS: Apneic hypoxia, pre-existing medical conditions, snorkelling or diving alone, separation and inadequate supervision were once again features in several deaths in this series.
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported as occurring in Australia in 2009 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific Dive Fatality Reporting Project. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided. RESULTS: In total, there were 21 reported fatalities (two more than in 2008), including 18 males and three females. Twelve deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, eight while scuba diving and one while using surface-supply breathing apparatus. Apneic hypoxia continues to be a problem with breath-hold divers and appears to have caused the death of three victims in this series. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have been the disabling injury in the deaths of at least three snorkel divers and at least three scuba divers. One of the victims was a student who became separated from her instructor on an introductory scuba dive in poor visibility. CONCLUSIONS:Apneic hypoxia, pre-existing medical conditions, snorkelling or diving alone, separation and inadequate supervision were once again features in several deaths in this series.
Authors: John Lippmann; Christopher Stevenson; David McD Taylor; Jo Williams; Mohammadreza Mohebbi Journal: Diving Hyperb Med Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 0.887
Authors: John Lippmann; David McD Taylor; Christopher Stevenson; Jo Williams; Simon J Mitchell Journal: Diving Hyperb Med Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 0.887