by LUTHER MONROE @ CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
ABERDEEN, Scotland (6 Apr 2009) — A diver suffering from potentially fatal decompression sickness was rescued this afternoon at about 2:50 pm.
Authorities told CDNN the 33-year-old scuba diving accident victim was with a group of divers exploring the Somali wreck off Seahouses when the accident occurred.
Witnesses said the divers reached a maximum depth of about 28 meters before the victim made a rapid ascent.
The crew of the dive boat "Glad Tidings 7" called to alert rescue officials that one of their customers was suffering from the bends.
A Seahouses RNLI Inshore Lifeboat responded to the call for help and the crew administered oxygen to the injured diver as they brought him to shore.
From there, RAF Rescue Helicopter 131 took the victim to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment of decompression sickness in the facility's hyperbaric chamber.
Rescue officials have not yet released information about the diver's condition but urged divers to immediately contact the Coastguard via VHF channel 16 for assistance with scuba diving accidents.
The injured diver was airlifted to a recompression chamber in Aberdeen.
