Rebreather death question

[Freedive WI]

Has anyone heard any details aboutthe diver who died in the Straits this past weekend? I heard he was 56 years old and on a rebreather. No other details.

Jon

[jasondbaker]

Diver dies near Straits shipwreck

Wisconsin man was diving the Cedarville; sheriff warns that safety precautions must be observed

By ERICA KOLASKI

Tribune Staff Writer

CHEBOYGAN - A Wisconsin man drowned late Sunday morning while diving near a shipwreck in the Straits of Mackinaw.

Cheboygan County Sheriff Dale Clarmont said that the 57-year-old male victim's name could not be released until notification of next of kin.

Clarmont said that the department's Search and Rescue Dive Team was requested by the U.S. Coast Guard to respond to the Straits Of Mackinaw at 10:45 a.m. Sunday to investigate a possible drowning.

Clarmont said that the Coast Guard in St. Ignace received an emergency call for help from recreational divers on the Cedarville ship wreck.

"The caller indicated that a member of their recreational dive group was overdue on his dive and they were requesting emergency assistance," said Clarmont.

He said that the dive team was on the scene within 45 minutes of the call and that the body of the victim was recovered within 10 minutes of the arrival by two civilian divers from the charter boat Rec Diver who were on the scene.

Clarmont explained that the Cedarville is a 588-foot metal freighter that was shipwrecked in 1965 in a collision with the Norwegian vessel Topdalsfjord and is located in the Straits in about 110 feet of water. Ten crewmen from the Cedarville died in the collision.

"The wreck is a recreational dive site frequented by numerous recreational divers during the summer months," he said.

Reports state that the victim had many years of diving experience. His body was recovered within 30 feet of the shipwreck in approximately 108 feet of water, said Clarmont.

This is the second diving accident that led to a drowning in the Great Lakes this month. The Traverse City Record-Eagle reported that on Aug. 24, Laura Krause, 27, of Kingsley was scuba diving with her father in high winds and waves near the submerged wreck of Three Brothers shipwreck near the South Manitou Island lighthouse.

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Department reported that a Coast Guard rescue crew airlifted Krause from the island's shoreline after National Park Service rangers tried to resuscitate her with CPR.

Both drownings remain under investigation.

Clarmont stated Sunday that he would like to remind recreational divers to always follow all recommended safety procedures, dive with a buddy-diver and stay within prescribed time limits for recreational diving.

[jasondbaker]

This is second, third hand information from a guy on scubaboard:

"All this information is second hand and from the radio broadcast on the way to work this morning....

A 57 year old Mich. man died while diving the Cedarville approx. 10:30 am, Aug 31. Cause of death is under investigation, but initial speculation is saying a heart attack. He was diving a rebreather, and was found about 75' from the wreck in 108' by police dive team. His equipment was functioning properly.

Again, this is what we found out from our captain once we returned to port, and from a sketchy radio report this morning."

[ghosch]

I know it's kind of morbid, but it seems if you log onto google search "SCUBA" there are one to two deaths a week (SCUBA in general, not rebreathers). I suppose that stands to reason when the DAN stats normally have about 100 or so a year if memory serves me correctly. Unfortunately most of the news accounts rarely have the information that, as divers, we look for to understand what happened. Generally have to wait for DAN on that.

[ghosch]

Has anyone seen any more information on this?

[Freedive WI]

From the Cheboygan Tribune:

Cause of diver's death still a mystery

By ERICA KOLASKI

Tribune Staff Writer

CHEBOYGAN - The name of the Wisconsin man who drowned Sunday in the Straits of
Mackinaw was released by the Cheboygan
County Sheriff's Department Tuesday.

Sheriff Dale Clarmont said that 57-year-old Robert Harris hailed from Waussa,
Wis. Previous reports stated that Harris was an
experienced diver who was exploring the popular diving site of the ship wrecked
Cedarville.

New reports state that Harris was diving with six other people at the time of
the accident. Clarmont said that the basic safety
procedure for recreational divers is to dive with a buddy.

Reports state that Harris had separated from the group.

"A check of the gear showed that it appeared to be functioning normally," said
Clarmont. "The gear was connected and
adjusted properly and reserve air was left in the pony tanks," said Clarmont.

He noted that the accident remains under investigation.

Clarmont said that the Cedarville is a 588-foot metal freighter that was
shipwrecked in 1965 in a collision with the Norwegian
vessel Topdalsfjord and is located in the Straits in about 110 feet of water.
Ten crewmen from the Cedarville died in the
collision.

Harris' body was recovered in about 108 feet of water, Clarmont said Sunday. He
noted that the department's search and
rescue dive team was requested by the U.S. Coast Guard to respond to the Straits
Of Mackinaw at 10:45 a.m. Sunday to
investigate a possible drowning.

Clarmont said Sunday that the Coast Guard in St. Ignace received an emergency
call for help from recreational divers on the
Cedarville ship wreck.

"The caller indicated that a member of their recreational dive group was overdue
on his dive and they were requesting
emergency assistance," said Clarmont.

He said that the dive team was on the scene within 45 minutes of the call and
that the body of the victim was recovered within
10 minutes of the arrival by two civilian divers from the charter boat Rec Diver
who were on the scene.