Scuba diving accident nearly kills man off Alki Point
Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network by LUTHER MONROE - CDNN Safety News Editor
SEATTLE, Washington (1 Nov 2008) — A man who was participating in a rescue diving course had to be rescued after he encountered problems and apparently lost consciousness at depth.
Seattle Fire Department officials told CDNN the 30-year-old victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after he was pulled unconscious from Elliott Bay.
Witnesses said two other divers who were also participating in the rescue diving course found the victim about 30 meters offshore at a depth of about 30 meters.
Fire-rescue personnel who responded to a missing scuba diver report at about 11am provided CPR and took the victim to Harborview Medical Center.
The two divers who rescued the victim were also hospitalized as a precaution due to a rapid ascent that can cause decompression sickness (the bends), a potentially fatal injury.
Hospital officials confirmed the scuba diving accident victim was alive when he arrived at the medical center but declined to describe his condition.
Police are investigating the accident.
Rescuers pulled an unconscious diver from the water near near Seacrest Park in Seattle.
