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2007-07-14 Incident
July 14, 2007 – “The Crack”, Madison County, FL
RescueOrRecoveryOrNearMiss Recovery
TodaysDate July 14, 2007
TimeOfAccident 15:30 EDT
DateOfAccident July 14, 2007
County/State/Country Madison County, FL
a_NameOfAccidentSite “The Crack” near Ellaville, on the Withlacoochee River.
DateRecoveryStarted July 14, 2007
T imeRecoveryStarted 15:30 EDT
VictimName xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
VictimToBeAnonymous Yes
AgeOfVictim 28
SexOfVictim Female
VictimsHighestCertLevel Full Cave / Trimix
CertAgency NACD / NSS-CDS / D-SAT (Trimix)
DateOfTraining January 2006 cave / open water since 1991
YrsExperienceDiving 16 yrs
TotalNumberOfDives 280
NumberOfDivesThisYear 50+
TrainedInCaveDiving Yes
CaveDivingTrainingAgency NACD
DateOfCaveDivingTraining Jan 2006
YearsExperienceCaveDiving 2.5
TotalNumberOfCaveDives 170 approx
NumberOfCaveDivesInLastYear 40+
NumberOfDivesAtThisLocation none
DatesOfDivesAtThisLocation July 14, 2007
MaximumDepthAtLocation 160 ffw
DivePartnersName Tim Halbach, Wayne Kinard
a_DivePartnersExperience Tim Halbach: Open water since 2004 All other training same as victim
Wayne Kinard: Full cave, trimix Stage, scooter, sidemount, etc. cert 1982, 1000+ cave dives, 500+ logged cave dives
Dive-Info-for-24hrs-prior [RC comment] This was their second dive of the day. They were diving at Little River Springs earlier in the day.
a_OriginalDivePlan Enter cave and follow main line until we reached 1/3rds. Turn and follow main line back out. Tanks were filled with 24/25 trimix using 75% deco gas. The dive went as planned until the moment that victim
Description of Recovery During dive on the return (ascent) at approx 150′ Tim used his light to signal me that victim was having a problem. When I looked at her I noticed that victim had her hands clinched, her arm was shaking violently and the regulator was out of her mouth. I tried to replace and purge the reg but got no response. Tim and I continue to work together to get victim up and out of the cave. We had 12-15 min of deco obligation. Estimated time from onset of problem to surface was approx 30 minutes. Tim exited and called 911.
MaximumKnownDepth 160 ffw
WaterTemp 69F
DepthBodyFound 145 approx – divers with victim at time of incident
DistanceToNearestExit 150 to 200′ approx.
DescriptionOfSiltInArea none or slight until incident
NormalVizDistance 50+ (varies with river conditions)
VizDuringRecovery 10+/- unti l we reach entrance/exit then 50′
a_WeatherConditionsAtTimeOfAccident approx 90F overcast and then some moderate rain after exiting cave
a_EntryConditionsAtSite Steep drop off, rocky entry into 5′ x 15′ pool with cave entry at approx 25′-27′
WetOrDrySuit dry suit
FullOrShorty n/a
ConditionOfSuit intact
Hood yes/neoprene
Gloves no
Booties on drysuit
WeightBelt no
PoundsKilosOfWeight n/a
BuoyancyCompensator Halcyon
BCType Harness with backplate (stainless steel)
DegreeOfBCInflation appropriate for depth
Mask single pane/low volume
LocationOfMask on face
Contents OfMask some blood on the surface
Fins scuba pro jets w/ spring straps
TypeOfFins jets
TapedFins spring straps
Snorkel n/a
Knife z-knife x 2
LocationOfKnife waist strap webbing and on wrist computer
NumberOfTanks 2 – E8 – 119
SizeOfTanks E-8-119
TankMaterial Steel (PST)
TankPosition Back
FillPressureAtStartOfDive 3700psi
PressureAtRecovery 1800psi
TankValveConfiguration Manifold w/ isolator (200 bar)
PositionOfIsolationValve slightly forward
NumberOfRegulators 2
BrandOfRegulators Scuba Pro (primary) w/ Mk25, Seaquest (secondary) G-650 long hose
Octopus n/a
LongHose yes, under light canister, around neck
RegsFunctionalAtScene yes
GeneralConditionOfRegulators excellent
StatusOfValveOpening all valves open
PressureGauge 0-5000 brass/glass
PSIReadingOnGauge 1800 psi
NumberOfLights 3, 1 primary, 2 backups
TypeOfLights Dive Rite 24w, 2 backups
LightsOperational yes – primary / backup lights not tested at scene
LocationOfLights primary on right side / backups on gear
NumberOfReels 2
TypeOfReels finger spools
ReelsDeployed no – not needed
LocationOfReels in drysuit pocket
DistanceFromGuideline on the line – as appropriate
GuidelineCondition good condition – no breaks – nylon braided
DepthGaugeType computer – Dive Rite He / Suunto Computer watch
VictimsDepthGaugeReading 160′
Slate yes – none – backup deco tables
Tables backup tables appropriate for gas used on dive
NumberOfComputers 1 + electronic depth gauge
TypeOfComputers Dive Rite He / Suunto computer watch
a_ComputerData IN: 15:10 OUT: 16:36 Bottom Temp: 69F Max Depth: 160′ Avg Depth: 65′ Gas #1 24/26 Gas #2 73% Total Dive Time: 1hr 26min
a_AddtionalDescriptionOfEquipment No problems or issues with drysuit / BC / regs or lights. All equipment working properly
EquipmentLoaned No
LoanedFromWho n/a
OverallConditionOfEquipment very good – no problems
a_BodyState hands clinched – one eye open, one closed – foaming from the mouth and nose
ReportPreparedBy Wayne Kinard
OfficerInCharge Tina DeMotsis
850-251-8892 cell
850-973-4001 ex 248 work 850-973-3181 fax
823 W. W. Pinckney Madison, FL 32340 tmd906@yahoo.com
[approved by Regional Coordinator]