UPDATE 12.30PM: A 70-year-old Papamoa man who suffered the bends while out diving off the Maketu coast early today is in a stable condition.
Te Puke St John Paramedics rushed the diver to hospital about 8.40am after he was brought to Kaituna Cut jetty by boat.
District operations manager Richard Waterson was on his way to Whakatane when the call came in.
'The man had been out for dive and had dived a couple of times. On his last dive, he came to the surface quite disorientated suffering from the decompression sickness.
'He has had the bends before.”
Bay of Plenty District Health Board communications advisor James Fuller confirmed the man is in hospital and is currently stable after originally being listed as being in a serious condition.
3 comments
Hardie
Posted on 30-01-2014 15:49 | By Derianne
As a older fellow diver I am pleased to hear that he is recovering.I wonder if this fellow kept a record of his diving and consulted the decompression charts to check his nitrogen residual level before attempting the second dive. Recreational diving is 100% safe if we stick to the rules.Let this be a warning to all at this popular diving time.Speedy recovery buddy.
Some people dont learn
Posted on 31-01-2014 07:59 | By normal local
Great to hear he is recovering well. If he has had it before you think he would have learnt. I am a fellow diver but I know the rules/limits. Pity he wont get the bill for the emergency services cost.
Hardie
Posted on 31-01-2014 16:27 | By Derianne
I strongly recommend any interested party visiting Philip Greenspun's web site, he tells of his personal experience "after" doing everything by the BOOK.There are other contributing factors that can lead to the bends.This should not put people off diving, rather- motivate them to seek proper training. www.philip.greenspun.com/health/decompression-illness.Don't be in a hurray to get back in the water until you have read this.Hope your feeling better today buddy.
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