DATELINE: 19 August 2002

PAGENTURM DIVE ENDS IN TRAGEDY
A 40-year-old diver surfaced unconscious after a 48m dive on the wreck of the Pagenturm on the afternoon of Sunday 18 August. He was later pronounced dead after being airlifted to Brighton Hospital.
Skipper Mike Snelling from dive boat Girl Gray sprang into action after seeing a large quantity of bubbles reaching the surface 30 minutes after the last pair of divers in a group of twelve had descended. Two divers popped to the surface and an emergency signal was given as the boat came alongside. One diver was unconscious, and resuscitation attempts started on the boat. His buddy began to experience symptoms of bends.
A spokesman for Solent Coastguard reported that the pair appeared to have made a rapid ascent after problems deploying a delayed SMB. The skipper was praised for his fast actions and presence of mind.
The bending diver was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital as all the South Coast recompression facilities were busy.
A separate incident on dive boat Spartacus saw a diver surface unconscious from a 70m mixed gas dive after reportedly breathing the wrong gas mix and depth and suffering an oxygen convulsion. It appears that he was sent to the surface by his buddy and recovered into the boat. Fortunately he recovered after being airlifted and recompressed.

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