Diver missing - St. Paul

[Dano]

Here's another article with more information. My condolences to the family, as well.



Posted on Sat, Apr. 24, 2004





VADNAIS HEIGHTS: Water utility diver dies

BY ALLEN POWELL II

Pioneer Press


A contract diver for the St. Paul Regional Water Services died Friday during a routine cleaning of equipment in Vadnais Lake in Vadnais Heights, and officials are uncertain of the cause of death.

The unidentified 44-year old man and Greg Hegi — the owner of the company that handles the twice-a-year maintenance — were cleaning the outside of an aerator about 60 feet below the surface about 10 a.m., said Jim Bode, the water quality supervisor for the utility.

After removing algae and slime, Hegi motioned to the other diver to surface and proceeded to swim up. However, when Hegi reached the surface, he realized the man had not followed him, Bode said.

When Hegi dove to search for the man, he found him floating inside of the aerator tangled in cables, Bode said. Hegi saw the man's face mask appeared to be filled with blood and he swam to the surface to call 911, Bode said.

It took divers from neighboring communities and the Ramsey County water patrol several hours to free the entangled man.

The incident occurred 200 to 300 yards from a pumping station in the southwest portion of the lake.

Law enforcement officials and Bode were uncertain whether the man drowned or died due to a medical factor. The Ramsey County medical examiner was investigating late Friday afternoon.

Hegi's company, Hegi Enterprises LLC, always has handled aerator cleaning and helped with its installation in 1987, Bode said.

Friday was the first time the unidentified man, an experienced diver, had participated in the cleaning, said Helga Kessler, a spokeswoman for the regional water services.

This is the first fatal accident involving a utility worker in any of its lakes, Kessler said.

"It's a tragedy, and our hearts go out to his family," said St. Paul City Council Member Pat Harris, who also serves as board president of the water utility, which serves 14 cities and about 415,000 people.

Vadnais Lake is a natural holding station for water before it is processed at the utility's treatment centers.