DATELINE: 28 January 2003

TWO DIE IN ICE DIVING TRAGEDY

Two divers lost their lives ice diving in Wendling Quarry, Iowa, USA on Saturday 25 Jan.
Kevin Petersen, 31, and Tracy Humphreys, 30, were reported missing to the emergency services after they failed to turn up for their lift home. Their personal belongings were found close to two holes cut in the ice, but divers who began searching for the two men had to abandon the attempt a number of hours later when weather conditions worsened.
Their bodies were recovered the following morning. The men appear not to have been using a fixed line to the surface, and may have lost their exit before being overcome by hypothermia or running out of air. Their bodies were found within 30 feet of each other, but at almost 300 feet from their point of entry.
"Ice diving is a specialist area of scuba diving requiring specific training, and is very safe if the correct procedures are observed." commented Mark Poulos, a local ice diving instructor who acted as technical adviser to the rescue team.