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Compressed gas diving fatalities in Australian waters 2014 to 2018
John Lippmann1,2,3,4, Christopher Lawrence5, Andrew Fock6
1Australasian Diving Safety Foundation, Canterbury, Victoria, Australia.
Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
|June 26, 2023
Summary
Diving fatalities in Australia are increasingly linked to older age, obesity, and cardiac issues. A thorough fitness to dive assessment is crucial for diver safety and preventing future incidents.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Diving medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Investigated Australian compressed gas diving deaths between 2014-2018.
- Compared findings to a previous cohort (2001-2013).
- Aimed to identify persistent issues and evaluate safety measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze trends in scuba diving fatalities.
- Identify key risk factors and causes of death.
- Assess the effectiveness of current safety protocols.
Main Methods:
- Searched media reports and the National Coronial Information System for diving deaths (2014-2018).
- Extracted data from witness reports, police findings, medical histories, and autopsies.
- Conducted a chain of events analysis and compared data with previous studies.
Main Results:
- Identified 42 fatalities (38 scuba, 4 surface-supplied).
- Victims were older (mean age 49.7 years) and more frequently obese (54%) than in the prior period.
- Predominant factors included health issues (obesity, cardiac), unqualified divers, and planning deficiencies.
Conclusions:
- Diving fatalities show an increasing trend in victims' age and obesity.
- Associated cardiac conditions are a significant contributing factor.
- Emphasizes the critical need for rigorous fitness to dive assessments.
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