Trio rescue unconscious diver

A trio of divers leapt into action saving the life of a diver who had come to the surface unconscious.

The three, who are all members of Mid Herts Divers in Welwyn Garden City, heard cries for help coming from the water and rushed to the rescue on Saturday.

Within seconds Rod Reeves, Pete Hodkin and Daniel Hodkin had pulled the man to safety at Stoney Cove in Leicestershire.

Rod, 57, said: “His face was blue, his lips were blue and he was foaming at the mouth. We rolled him onto his side and listened for his breathing but there was nothing and his jaw was forced shut.

“When you start to drown, your throat goes into spasm to stop water from going into your lungs. We needed to open his airway and fast.”

Daniel, 26, quickly removed the divers’ hood and unclipped his cylinder off his back while Rod, who is an Emergency Care Assistant with the East of England Ambulance Service, and Pete began tilting the divers head back and removing his tongue from the back of his throat.

“There was a hunting, deep rasping breath. And then again and again,” said Pete.

“Rod, calm as you like asks me if he has a pulse but I can’t find it. With one hand I’m trying to keep his airway open and with the other I’m trying to get an output.

“Then I find it and boy what a pulse it was, banging away like a racehorse.”

The rescue boat arrived with oxygen for the 35-year-old diver.
Pete, 52, said: “I rested his head on my knee and Rod placed the mask over the divers’ mouth and nose. He began to breathe with a bit less labour but was still very grey.”

An ambulance soon arrived closely followed by the air ambulance. The diver was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where he is expected to make a full recovery.

It is believed that the diver had panicked while at 18m, spat out his regulator and tried to head to the surface. His buddy attempted to put his regulator back in but was pushed away. He made it to 10m and became unresponsive. His buddy, assisted by two other divers, got him to the surface.

Pete said: “Rod and I did what we had to do - save a life. Our training paid off.”

For more information about Mid Herts Divers visit www.midhertsdivers.com.

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