2015 Report on
Scuba Diving Incidents
of Ontarians Outside Ontario, and
Recommendations to Prevent Recurrence
Compiled by:
Stephen Weir
Advisor, Sport Safety
Ayisha Hassanali Advisor, Sport Safety
Mar Smith
Director, Sport Safety
as of March 8, 2016
Document Control
Date
January 29, 2015
March 27, 2015
April 13, 2015
May 17, 2015
Description of Change
Incident – French Reef, Florida Keys
Incident – Cozumel, Mexico
Updated Florida Keys Incident
Updated Cozumel Incident
By Whom
Ayisha Hassanali, Stephen Weir
Ayisha Hassanali, Stephen Weir
Ayisha Hassanali
Stephen Weir, Ayisha Hassanali
OUC Contact Information:
Ontario Underwater Council
1 Concorde Gate
Suite 109
Toronto, Ontario
M3C 3N6
Phone:
Fax:
416 426 7033
416 426 7336
Email:
Website:
ouc@underwatercouncil.com
www.underwatercouncil.com
Submitting an Incident Report
To submit a report, you should contact one of the OUC board members.
You can also complete and return an Incident Submission Form.
For comments on this document please contact
OUC’s Director of Sport Safety
ouc.safety@underwatercouncil.com
Page 2 of 20
Table of Contents
Document Control .................................................................................................................................... 2
Ontario Underwater Council..................................................................................................................... 4
Goals: .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Intended Audience: ............................................................................................................................... 4
Scope: ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Publication Frequency: ......................................................................................................................... 5
Recommendations: ............................................................................................................................... 6
Disclaimer: ............................................................................................................................................ 6
SECTION A: Fatalities - Summaries & Recommendations .................................................................... 7
Date of Incident:
2015-01-29 ......................................................................................................... 8
Summary: .......................................................................................................................................... 8
OUC Recommendations:...................................................................................................................8
Date of Incident: 2015-03-27 ......................................................................................................... .9
Summary: ......................................................................................................................................... .9
OUC Recommendations: ................................................................................................................. .9
Date of Incident:. ........................ ......................................................................................................10
SECTION B: Near Misses - Summaries & Recommendations........................................................... 111
Date of Incident: 2015-mm-dd ...................................................................................................... 122
Summary: ...................................................................................................................................... 122
OUC Recommendations: .............................................................................................................. 122
SECTION C: Appendices .................................................................................................................... 133
Appendix #1...................................................................................................................................... 144
Public Domain Information on Scuba Fatality of 2015-01-29: .................................................... 144
Other Related Links: ..................................................................................................................... 167
Appendix #2...................................................................................................................................... 177
Public Domain Information on Scuba Fatality of 2015-03-27: .................................................... 177
Other Related Links: ......................................................................................................................19
Appendix #3........................................................................................................................................20
Public Domain Information on Scuba Fatality of 2015-mm-dd: ...................................................20
Other Related Links: ......................................................................................................................20
Page 3 of 20
Ontario Underwater Council
Report on Scuba Diving Related Incidents outside Ontario,
and recommendations to prevent recurrence.
Goals:
The goals of this report are to:
o
Educate (inform) readers on Scuba Diving incidents that have occurred outside Ontario,
the direct causes leading up to those incidents, and recommendations to prevent
recurrence.
o
Prevent and /or reduce the numbers and/or severity of future scuba diving incidents
wherever divers are diving, thus making the sport of scuba diving more safe
o
Earn the privilege of continued sport self-governance by demonstrating that the greater
Ontario scuba diving community cares deeply about sport safety and that it works hard to
identify past incidents, and prevent future ones.
Intended Audience:
Although this report is posted on the Web and can therefore be read by anyone, the intended
audience for this report is:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Ontario Underwater Council (OUC) Members and Member Organizations (Clubs, Charter
Operators, Retailers, etc.)
Not-yet OUC Members and Member Organizations (Clubs, Charter Operators, Retailers,
etc.)
Scuba Certification Agencies (e.g. ACUC, PADI, NAUI, BSAC, etc.) that certify divers in
Ontario
Scuba Safety Organizations (e.g. Divers Alert Network) that provide services in Ontario
Ontario Government, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Office of
the Chief Coroner (Dr. Andrew McCallum at time of publication)
Other Canadian Provincial Underwater Councils, whether still self-governed, or
provincially-governed (e.g. Quebec)
Other Ontario Provincial Sport Organizations
Other users of Ontario waters, including but not limited to: commercial and recreational
power boaters, sailors, hydro-electric power generating companies, commercial and sport
fishing users, personal watercraft operators, etc.
Page 4 of 20
Scope:
The scope of this particular report includes:
o
Only scuba diving incidents that OUC has learned about independently and those that
have been brought to OUC’s attention by outside parties.
o
Scuba diving incidents that have occurred anywhere in the world involving divers whose
principal residence was Ontario at the time of the incident / fatality
o
Recreational scuba diving incidents
o
Technical (including Re-breather) scuba diving incidents
o
Recommendations to prevent recurrence, where sufficient direct causes have been
identified to allow relevant recommendations to be made.
o
Corroborated information from public domain, survivors interviews, coroner’s reports,
police, witnesses, that OUC deems to be helpful in understanding the incidents/s.
The following are not in scope of this report:
o
Snorkelling incidents
o
Free-diving (breath-hold diving) incidents
o
Everything that is not expressly listed as in-scope of this report shall be, by definition, out
of scope of this report.
Publication Frequency:
OUC’s goal is to re-publish this living document as soon as possible after any of the following
occur:
o
After investigation of incidents within Ontario have been satisfactorily investigated. The
Ontario Scuba Incident & Prevention Report remains the OUC’s top priority.
o
When we become aware of, and have confirmed that an incident has occurred.
o
When we receive more information or facts about the incident.
o
When we develop recommendations to prevent the incident from recurring in the future.
o
If you wish to be notified of these re-publications, please sign up to OUC’s Safety Advisory
e-mail distribution list at www.underwatercouncil.com/mailinglist
Page 5 of 20
Recommendations:
The goal of OUC’s recommendations is to prevent future recurrence of scuba incidents.
o
OUC can only publish relevant recommendations to prevent recurrence if we have sufficient hard
facts relating to the direct causes of the incident.
o
This means that it could take some time between initial publication that an incident has occurred,
and the subsequent publication of relevant recommendations to prevent recurrence.
o
OUC needs your (the greater Ontario Scuba Community’s) help to reduce / prevent future scuba
diving incidents. If you are aware of such hard facts or information regarding an incident, or know
someone who is, please inform BOTH of the following individuals as soon as possible:
 OUC’s Director of Sport Safety at:
 ouc.safety@underwatercouncil.com AND
 OUC’s Scuba Incident & Prevention Report Coordinator at:
 ouc.reports@underwatercouncil.com
o
Wherever possible, OUC will position recommendations positively (what people should do to
prevent future incidents), rather than negatively.
o
OUC’s recommendations may be directed inwards towards the diving community, and/or outwards
to other users of Ontario Waters.
o
In some circumstances, third parties such as Police, Coroner’s Office, etc. may conduct all areas of
the investigation into the incident, and only involve OUC after the investigation has been concluded.
These third parties may then request OUC to develop the recommendations and to use OUC’s
communications channels and contacts to communicate them to the greater Ontario Scuba
Community.
Disclaimer:
No claim is made by the OUC, OUC’s Director of Sport Safety, OUC’s Scuba Incident &
Prevention Report Coordinator, or by any contributors, as to the completeness or accuracy of
information contained within this report.
Notwithstanding the above, OUC, subject to the availability of its volunteer resources, makes
every effort to verify and corroborate the information provided in this report, and to ensure that
the recommendations to prevent recurrence are relevant, and if followed, would prevent a
similar incident from happening in the future.
Certain personal risks are inherent in most sports, and the sport of scuba diving is no
exception. By engaging in the sport of scuba, you accept these risks. No amount of training,
experience, equipment, policies, etc. can completely eliminate all personal risks, and the OUC,
its Board Members, Regional Coordinators, and Members are not responsible for any losses,
injury, or death sustained as a result of members or non-members taking these risks.
Page 6 of 20
SECTION A: Fatalities - Summaries & Recommendations
Fatalities - Summaries and Recommendations are listed in chronological order.
Page 7 of 20
Date of Incident:
2015-01-29
Summary:
James Leek, a 58 year old man from Oakville, Ontario, passed away on Thursday January
29th, 2015 following an afternoon dive off Key Largo, Florida. Mr. Leek was diving from the
boat “Visibility” out of John Pennekamp State Park with an instructor. The dive was on
French Reef to about 38 feet for approximately half an hour. Mr. Leek surfaced of his own
accord and appeared to be fine but became unresponsive as he approached the boat’s
ladder. The instructor and captain of the Visibility boat lifted Mr. Leek into the boat and CPR
(Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) was commenced. CPR was continued on the way to the
dock and was taken over by paramedics at the dock. The victim was transported to Mariner’s
hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy was performed and Mr. Leek’s cause of death was determined to be a result of
atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Mr. Leek was the morning host of a Christian radio show and had been vacationing in the
Florida Keys.
For public domain information of this incident, please refer to Section C, Appendix #1
of this document.
OUC Recommendations:
 Divers should review their fitness to dive at least annually; more often if there are
known or suspected cardiac or other health issues, preferably with a physician who is
aware of the complications of diving.
 Divers Alert Network has a number for physicians to call for consultation on medical
concerns. DAN Medical Information Line (+1-919-684-2948).
 The WRSTC has a medical form which includes background information for
physicians. A download link is available on the OUC Safety page.
 Ensure blood pressure is not above 120/70, a new benchmark.
 Engage in an active lifestyle and moderate exercise every day or at least several times
per week.
Page 8 of 20
Date of Incident:
2015-03-27
Summary:
Sharron Young, a 69 year old woman from London, Ontario, passed away after a dive at Columbia
Reef in Cozumel, Mexico on March 27th, 2015. Ms Young had been diving for about 20 minutes with
her husband, Ronald Young, and a group on the “Renegade” dive boat when she signalled to Mr.
Young that she was not feeling well. She ascended with her husband and a Dive Guide followed to
the surface. At the surface, Ms Young said she felt ill, couldn’t breathe, and felt a sharp pain in her
chest, and then went unresponsive. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was started and
Emergency Medical Services were initiated. Since the rest of the divers from the Renegade were still
diving unaware of the emergency, it was decided that another boat that was just leaving the area, the
“Medusa”, would transport the victim to a dock to meet EMS. Ms Young was transported onto the
Medusa and met EMS at the Palancar dock, where EMS personnel continued CPR. Ms Young
appeared to suffer a heart attack and was revived by EMS. When she arrived at a clinic which
contained a hyperbaric chamber, Ms Young had a second heart attack, and was revived. After she
appeared to be stable, her husband and doctors were arranging to have Ms Young transferred by air
ambulance to a Canadian hospital. During this process, Ms Young suffered a third and final heart
attack, and she was pronounced dead at 6:47 PM.
Mr Young had stated that Ms Young had appeared to be in good health and he was not aware of any
heart condition.
For public domain information of this incident, please refer to Section C, Appendix #2
of this document.
OUC Recommendations:
 Divers should review their fitness to dive at least annually; more often if there are
known or suspected cardiac or other health issues, preferably with a physician who is
aware of the complications of diving.
 Although Ms Young was transported very quickly to EMS, all dive boats should have
an emergency recall procedure to alert divers below to return to the boat in an
emergency. This recall signal could be a metal object being tapped on the hull of the
dive boat or other sound resonating signal, and should be demonstrated during a dive
briefing
 The Ontario Underwater Council recommends that all dive boats have a working
Automatic Emergency Defibrillator (AED) on board, with staff trained to use it
 All dive boats and organized dives should have enough oxygen available to reach
EMS, preferably with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device
Page 9 of 20
Date of Incident:
2015-mm-dd
Summary:
For public domain information of this incident, please refer to Section C, Appendix #3
of this document.
OUC Recommendations:
Page 10 of 20
SECTION B: Near Misses - Summaries & Recommendations
Definition of a “Near Miss”
A “Near Miss” is any scuba-related situation or incident that did not result in a fatality,
but that did put the diver/s health and/or safety at risk.
To report a near miss and submit it for consideration for publication in this report,
please send an e-mail to ouc.safety@underwatercouncil.com with all relevant details.
Page 11 of 20
Date of Incident:
2015-mm-dd
Summary:
OUC Recommendations:


Recommendation 1
Recommendation 2
Page 12 of 20
SECTION C: Appendices
Page 13 of 20
Appendix #1
Public Domain Information on Scuba Fatality of 2015-01-29:
http://www.local10.com/news/keys-visitor-dies-during-offshore-dive/31008582
Keys visitor from Canada dies during offshore dive
James Leek, 58, pronounced dead after being brought to shore
Author: Jeff Tavss, Executive Producer, jtavss@local10.com
Published On: Jan 30 2015 11:37:10 AM EST Updated On: Jan 30 2015 11:45:00 AM EST
KEY LARGO, Fla. A Canadian man visiting the Florida Keys died while diving off the coast of Key Largo.
James Leek, 58, of Ontario, Canada, was diving with an instructor Thursday afternoon in 38
feet of water at French Reef.
The captain of the dive vessel told a Monroe County sheriff's deputy that Leek appeared to
be fine after he and the instructor surfaced following a half-hour dive. But when the duo
reached the boat's ladder, Leek became unresponsive.
The instructor and the captain both began performing CPR on Leek after loading him onto the
boat.
Paramedics met the boat called "Visibility" at the dock and took Leek to Mariner's Hospital,
where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death .
Page 14 of 20
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/01/30/canadian-man-dies-shortly-after-dive-offshore-of-keylargo/
Canadian Man Dies Shortly After Dive Offshore Of Key Largo
January 30, 2015 12:32 PM
KEY LARGO (CBSMiami) – The exact cause of death remains unknown for a Canadian
tourist who died shortly after a 38-foot dive at reef offshore of Key Largo.
James Leek, 58, was on a dive vessel called “Visibility.” The vessel came into John
Pennekamp State Park shortly after 3 p.m. with CPR already in progress, according to
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Paramedics took over at the dock and transported Leek to Mariner’s Hospital where he was
pronounced dead.
Deputy Jean Gonzalez, the captain of the vessel, said they were diving at French Reef. The
dive, which reached depths of 38-feet, was about a half hour long.
Leek was with a dive instructor. The two surfaced, and Leek appeared to be fine, but when
they reached the boat’s ladder, Leek became unresponsive. That’s when they began CPR
and brought him to shore.
An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of his death.
http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/5297918-oakville-radio-host-dies-after-scuba-divingin-florida-keys/
Oakville radio host dies after scuba diving in Florida Keys
Page 15 of 20
photo courtesy JOY 1250
Jim Leek. Oakville Beaver Feb 02, 2015
An Oakville radio host has died after scuba diving in the Florida Keys.
Jim Leek, 58, was diving at the French Reef off of Key Largo on Thursday, Jan. 29, according
to the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, which stated an autopsy was pending.
Becky Herrin, a spokesperson from the Florida Keys sheriff’s department, said, according to
the diving vessel’s captain, Leek was with an instructor on a 38-foot dive that lasted
approximately a half-hour.
“The captain told deputies that Leek appeared to be fine when they resurfaced, but he
became unresponsive when they reached the boat’s ladder,” according to an online article by
the Tampa Tribune.
CPR was in progress on Leek as he was taken back to shore, to be transported to hospital
where he was pronounced dead.
Leek was the host of the weekday breakfast show and music director at the Oakville-based
JOY 1250, a local Christian radio station.
Prior to the creation of JOY 1250, Leek hosted a Christian music program and was one of
Canada’s most knowledgeable and respected program hosts, according to the radio station.
Involved as a director at the Gospel Music Association of Canada, Leek spent his time as a
musician and MC.
Other Related Links:
Scubaboard Thread:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-and-incidents/500305-canadian-student-dies-french-reef-keylargo-florida.html
http://faith.davidspencer.ca/wiki/Jim_Leek
Page 16 of 20
Appendix #2
Public Domain Information on Scuba Fatality of 2015-03-27:
http://www.dqr.com.mx/index.php/policia/cozumel/12193-turista-muere-infartada
Turista muere infartada
Jornada de buceo en arrecife Colombia le cuesta la vida: No pudieron salvarla
Francisco HERNANDEZ
COZUMEL, 28 de marzo.- Después de varios intentos por salvar la vida de una turista
canadiense de 69 años de edad que buceaba en la Isla, ésta perdió la vida justo cuando se
pretendía trasladarla en una ambulancia aérea a su país de origen; la mujer murió al parecer
por un infarto al miocardio.
Pese a los esfuerzos el cuerpo de paramédicos de la cámara hiperbárica para salvar la vida
de Sharon Young, de 69 años, la turista, quien disfrutaba de una vacaciones en Cozumel,
sufrió un primer infarto mientras buceaba en el arrecife Colombia, por lo que al sentir la
insuficiencia respiratoria salió del agua, siendo apoyada por los guías de buceo y su esposo,
Ronald Young, quien se encontraba con ella en ese momento.
De acuerdo a la información recabada, la pareja se encontraba disfrutando de las
actividades acuáticas en la embarcación el “Renegado”, de la empresa de buceo Dive
Paradise, donde visitaba los arrecifes de la zona Sur de la Isla de Cozumel, de repente el
esposo de la mujer, a señas, comunicó que su esposa se sentía mal, por lo que el guía de
buceo prestó el auxilio sacándolos a la superficie.
Una vez en la superficie, Sharon Young expresó que se sentía mal y que no podía respirar,
sintiendo un fuerte dolor en el pecho, por lo que de inmediato el guía le prestó los primeros
auxilios mientras daban aviso a la Capitanía de Puerto, así como a los servicios de
emergencia.
Debido a que el grupo de buzos de ese tour no se había percatado del incidente y tampoco
podía dejarlos, el capitán del la embarcación el “Renegado” solicitó apoyo a otra lancha que
ya iba de salida, por lo que fue la “Medusa” quien trasladó a la turista de manera inmediata al
muelle de playa Palancar, donde ya era esperada por una ambulancia.
En el lugar la mujer cayó en un paro respiratorio, por lo que se le brindaron los primeros
auxilios, logrando reanimarla y siendo trasladada en código rojo hasta la clínica de la cámara
hiperbárica, donde al arribar sufrió de un segundo paro cardiaco, del cual se le pudo
reanimar nuevamente; debido a la gravedad del paciente, aunque ya se encontraba estable,
la familia y médicos solicitaron una aero ambulancia para que fuera trasladada a Canadá,
desafortunadamente le sobrevino un tercer infarto, el cual le cobró la vida, siendo las 18:47
horas la hora oficial de la defunción.
Por su parte, Ronald Young señaló que desconocía qué ocurrió con su esposa, ya que se
Page 17 of 20
encontraba muy contenta vacacionando y hasta donde sabía ella no tenía ningún
padecimiento cardiaco. Será en el transcurso de este día que se entregue el cuerpo de la
mujer para ser trasladado a su país, donde se le dará la cristiana sepultura.
“Google Translate” of the above article:
COZUMEL, 28 March.- After several attempts to save the life of a Canadian tourist of 69
years who was diving on the island, it lost life just when intended move it by air ambulance to
their country of origin; Woman killed apparently by a myocardial infarction.
Despite the efforts of paramedics body hyperbaric chamber to save the life of Sharon Young,
69, a tourist, who enjoyed a vacation in Cozumel, suffered a first heart attack while snorkeling
on the reef Colombia, so the respiratory failure feel out of the water, being supported by the
dive guides and her husband, Ronald Young, who was with her at the time.
According to information gathered, the couple was enjoying water activities on the ship the
"Renegade" Company Dive Paradise dive where reefs visited the southern part of the island
of Cozumel, suddenly the husband woman, a sign, reported that his wife felt bad, so the dive
guide provided the assistance brought them to the surface.
Once on the surface, Sharon Young said he felt bad and I could not breathe, feeling a sharp
pain in the chest, so immediately the guide gave her first aid while giving notice to the Port,
as well as to the emergency services.
Because the group of divers of that tour was unaware of the incident and could not leave, the
captain of the boat the "Renegade" sought assistance from another boat that was already
out, so was the "Medusa" who He moved to economy immediately Palancar Beach Pier,
where it was expected by ambulance manner.
In the place of women fell into respiratory arrest, so we were provided first aid, managing to
revive and being transferred in code red to clinical hyperbaric chamber, where upon arrival he
suffered a second heart attack, which is revive it could again; due to the severity of the
patient, although it was stable, family and doctors requested an ambulance for aero was
moved to Canada, unfortunately he fell into a third heart attack, which he claimed the life,
being the time 18:47 hours officer death.
Meanwhile, Ronald Young said unknown what happened to his wife, because she was very
happy vacationing and as far as she knew she had no heart condition. It is in the course of
this day the woman's body to be transferred to their country, where Christian burial will be
delivered.
Page 18 of 20
http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=872756
Sharron Marie Young
YOUNG, Sharron Marie - Sharron Marie Young, born June 29, 1945 in London, Ont. died
suddenly March 27, 2015 in Cozumel, Mexico. Loving wife of Ron Young. Beloved mother of
Shawn (Julie) Young and Keri-Lee (Jon) Prychitko. Proud grandmother of Amber, Devin, Malory
and James. Predeceased by her mother and father Rita and Jack, brother Brian Walden, and
brother-in-law James Young. Survived by mother-in-law Jean Young, sister-in-law Barbra
Young, sister-in-law Cindy (Don) Campbell, brother Wayne (Meg) Walden, sisters Gayle (Bill)
Nagle, and Cathy (Willy) Yeats. Aunt Sharron will be missed by her several nieces and
nephews. Sharron lived a full and wonderful life filling each day with the people and things she
loved. She donated her time to Thames Valley Children Center. She enjoyed arts and culture at
the Grand Theater. She was an avid fan of Nia Fitness Program. Visitors will be received at
JOHN T. DONOHUE FUNERAL HOME , 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Monday, April
6, from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. Funeral Mass at St. Michael's Church, 511 Cheapside Street, on
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. Cremation. Donations to The Canadian Diabetes Association
would be appreciated
Other Related Links:
Scubaboard:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-and-incidents/503837-dive-incident-cozumelmarch-27-2015-a.html
Page 19 of 20
Appendix #3
Public Domain Information on Scuba Fatality of 2015-mm-dd:
Other Related Links:
Page 20 of 20