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Friends save life of diver with the bends
QUICK-thinking divers saved the life of their pal after he suffered the bends.
The South Tyneside diver was given oxygen and fluid before being airlifted by an RAF helicopter 70 miles to hospital for emergency treatment.
The 43-year-old could have had a fatal heart attack without the intervention of his diving group, who were taking part in a dive in Wales yesterday.
Julie Cheeseman, watch officer with Holyhead Coastguard, said today: "The group knew their stuff and were well-prepared, which can be the difference between life and death."
The man had been out of the water at Dorothea Quarry, at Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, for 15 minutes when he experienced symptoms of decompression sickness including sickness and vertigo.
The group gave him first aid, and alerted the coastguard at 12.50pm.
The lake at Dorothea Quarry is up to 300ft deep in places and has claimed the lives of more than 20 people since 1994.
Underneath the surface lies a network of flooded tunnels and sheer drops.
Ms Cheeseman said: "Quarter of an hour after surfacing, the diver began suffering from nausea and vertigo.
"These were signs of decompression sickness, or the bends as it's better known.
"Acting quickly is crucial in these situations. If left untreated, decompression sickness can ultimately lead to cardiac arrest and death.
"His group recognised the symptoms and acted immediately.
"They had an oxygen supply with them, so he was placed on 100 per cent oxygen straight away.
"They also made sure that he lay down, and they gave him fluids."
A coastguard rescue team was sent to the scene and a Sea King rescue helicopter was scrambled from RAF Valley.
The diver was taken to the Spire Murrayfield Hospital in the Wirral, which has a hyperbaric chamber - used to treat people with decompression sickness.
He is understood to have made a good recovery.
Ms Cheeseman added: "The seriousness of compression sickness and the potential effects depends on how quickly you ascent out of the water.
"You've got a certain amount of nitrogen in your body which is released when you're underwater.
"Rising up and out of the water too quickly means nitrogen re-enters your body too quickly, which is why people get sick."
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
