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Thursday, April 23, 2009

scuba divers swept out to sea in Cornwall

Seven scuba divers on the first sea expedition had to be rescued after being swept out to sea of
Porthgwarra near Lands End.
Falmouth Coastguard officials said walkers spotted the divers and called for help on April 12.
The crew of an inshore lifeboat found five of the scuba divers about a quarter mile off Gwennap head while the other two were rescued after being spotted by a rescue helicopter.
Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager Marc Thomas said if they had not been rescued so swiftly, they have been carried to the Isles of Scilly.
"The currents in that particular area are strong and it is easy to be swept away.
"They weren't aware of the strong tidal conditions in the area and did not have a safety boat with them on scene. I strongly advise any less experienced shore divers to dive in more sheltered and less tidal conditions."
In a separate incident on the same day a 51-year-old diver from Threlkeld in Cumbria was airlifted to hospital suffering with the symptoms of decompression sickness following dive 22 miles off the east coast of Fife in Scotland.
The man had just completed a 48 metre dive when he started suffering with head aches, dizziness and vomiting.
Forth Coastguard Watch Manager Stephen Higgins said: "A swift call to the Coastguard is absolutely crucial if divers suspect decompression sickness. Minutes can save lives.
"It was a perfectly normal dive, the diver completed all his stops and yet he still suffered with decompression sickness."

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