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. 2020 Sep 30;50(3):220-229.
doi: 10.28920/dhm50.3.220-229.

Scuba diving fatalities in Australia 2001 to 2013: Chain of events

John Lippmann  1   2   3 , David McD Taylor  4   5
Affiliations

Scuba diving fatalities in Australia 2001 to 2013: Chain of events

John Lippmann et al. Diving Hyperb Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to identify the possible chain of events leading to fatal scuba diving incidents in Australia from 2001-2013 to inform appropriate countermeasures.

Methods: The National Coronial Information System was searched to identify scuba diving-related deaths from 2001-2013, inclusive. Coronial findings, witness and police reports, medical histories and autopsies, toxicology and equipment reports were scrutinised. These were analysed for predisposing factors, triggers, disabling agents, disabling injuries and causes of death using a validated template.

Results: There were 126 known scuba diving fatalities and 189 predisposing factors were identified, the major being health conditions (59; 47%), organisational/training/experience/skills issues (46; 37%), planning shortcomings (29; 23%) and equipment inadequacies (24; 19%). The 138 suspected triggers included environmental (68; 54%), exertion (23; 18%) and gas supply problems (15; 12%) among others. The 121 identified disabling agents included medical-related (48; 38%), ascent-related (21; 17%), poor buoyancy control (18; 14%), gas supply (17; 13%), environmental (13; 10%) and equipment (4; 3%). The main disabling injuries were asphyxia (37%), cardiac (25%) and cerebral arterial gas embolism/pulmonary barotrauma (15%).

Conclusions: Chronic medical conditions, predominantly cardiac-related, are a major contributor to diving incidents. Divers with such conditions and/or older divers should undergo thorough fitness-to-dive assessments. Appropriate local knowledge, planning and monitoring are important to minimise the potential for incidents triggered by adverse environmental conditions, most of which involve inexperienced divers. Chain of events analysis should increase understanding of diving incidents and has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality in divers.

Keywords: Coroners findings; Deaths; Diving incidents; Drowning; Fitness to dive; Medical conditions and problems; Root cause analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest and funding

Dr Lippmann is Chairman and CEO of the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation (ADSF). This study was funded by Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific and the ADSF.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the chain of events analysis of a scuba diving accident
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of disabling injuries and causes of death in 126 scuba fatalities; PBT/CAGE – pulmonary barotrauma/cerebral arterial gas embolism; IPE – immersion pulmonary oedema; DCS – decompression sickness
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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