John Lippmann1,2,3, Chris Lawrence4, Andrew Fock5, Scott Jamieson2. 1. Corresponding author: DAN Asia Pacific, P O Box 384, Ashburton, Victoria 3147, Australia, johnl@danap.org. 2. Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific, Ashburton, Victoria, Australia. 3. School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. 4. Statewide Forensic Medical Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, Australia. 5. Departments of Hyperbaric Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of known diving-related deaths that occurred in Australia in 2012 was conducted. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using statements from witnesses and reports of 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: There were 26 reported fatalities (four less than the previous year). Only two of the victims were female (one snorkeller and one scuba diver). Fourteen deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, 11 while scuba diving and one diver died while using surface supplied breathing apparatus in a commercial pearl diving setting. Two breath-hold divers likely drowned as a result of apnoeic hypoxia. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have contributed to the deaths of at least three and possibly seven snorkellers and four scuba divers. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing medical conditions; poor organisation, planning and supervision; equipment-related problems; snorkelling or diving alone or with loose buddy oversight and apnoeic hypoxia were features in several deaths in this series. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of known diving-related deaths that occurred in Australia in 2012 was conducted. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using statements from witnesses and reports of 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: There were 26 reported fatalities (four less than the previous year). Only two of the victims were female (one snorkeller and one scuba diver). Fourteen deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, 11 while scuba diving and one diver died while using surface supplied breathing apparatus in a commercial pearl diving setting. Two breath-hold divers likely drowned as a result of apnoeic hypoxia. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have contributed to the deaths of at least three and possibly seven snorkellers and four scuba divers. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing medical conditions; poor organisation, planning and supervision; equipment-related problems; snorkelling or diving alone or with loose buddy oversight and apnoeic hypoxia were features in several deaths in this series. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.