Danish diving-related fatalities 1999-2012

Abstract

Aim: The purpose was to explore causative tendencies among diving fatalities to prevent similar injuries in the future.

Methods: We report 33 fatal diving injuries that occurred among Danish divers during the period 1999-2012 in Scandinavian waters. The study was performed as a retrospective overview. The empiric data consists of police reports, forensic autopsy reports and examination of the diving equipment. Data were assembled and analyzed using Pivot and Excel. Frequencies and means (± SD) were used to describe categorical and continuous variables respectively.

Results: The mean age was 38.9 years and drowning was considered the cause of death in 24 of 28 divers for whom a diagnosis was possible. Elevated body mass index (18 of 22 divers had a BMI 〉 25) was overrepresented in our group compared to the background population. A drysuit was worn by 17 divers. Diving independently of a dive centre and mishandling of buoyancy aids were common risk factors. Only two divers released their weights. Three-quarters of those who did not would have increased their chance of survival by doing so; nevertheless, in a quarter of cases the weights were not readily releasable or not releasable at all.

Conclusion: Unfamiliarity with drysuit diving, lack of a diving buddy and mismanagement of weights were important contributors to diving injuries.

Keywords: Diving injuries; buoyancy; diving deaths; drowning; root cause analysis; scuba diving.