GRAFTON, Australia (23 Dec 2006) -- The quick thinking of a Marlborough dive-boat crew has saved the life of an English tourist who lost consciousness 10m underwater yesterday. The 49-year-old woman was pulled to the surface and resuscitated about 10.45am after she panicked while on a guided tour of the Mikhail Lermontov wreck, near Port Gore at the head of the Marlborough Sounds. Dive Marlborough owner Brent McFadden said the woman was among a group of four divers who were descending to the wreck. "She had difficulties and lost her regulator. When we tried to replace it she panicked and we had to surface." The woman showed no vital signs when she was pulled from the water, he said. The crew immediately started CPR, and administered oxygen to the woman, who quickly regained consciousness. A marine radio emergency call was made on Channel 16 and the boat returned to shore. Disagreement exists between emergency services about their response to the incident. St John Ambulance Service South Island communications centre manager Eldon MacArthur said the first emergency call went from the charter boat to the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. However, the centre did not follow protocol, and called the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter pilot directly, instead of calling 111, he said. "The pilot rang us asking for an advanced paramedic and was concerned he was not equipped to do a sea rescue," MacArthur said. | | Kawasaki BK117 B-2 search and rescue helicopter The pilot then called the Wellington Westpac Rescue Helicopter, which happened to be in Nelson on a hospital delivery. It then collected the woman and took her to Wellington Hospital, he said. MacArthur said the centre received the call from the Nelson pilot at 11.04am. Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Lindsay Sturt said it was policy for emergency calls to be made directly to rescue helicopter bases. The centre received the first call at 10.55am, he said. McFadden said it took about 45 minutes for the rescue helicopter to arrive. "It is a very remote part of the country ... It goes to show that CPR and having the right equipment work," he said. SOURCE - The PressSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
