[jradomski]

Quote: (Originally Posted by DRmike)

I was given the extremely sad news today that Veteran Wreck UNOCAL diver Fred Evans died during a rebreather dive on the Tottorri Maru in the south China Sea, yesterday 4 April 2006.
The diver who found Fred on the bottom also suffered severe DCS bringing Fred to the surface missing all his own decompression stops.

May Fred Rest in Peace

[Drmike]

Please may I ask in respect of Fred please dont start speculating.

To help prevent that which normally happens on forums when there is a death I will post the facts now up front as we know them.

Let the independent inspector (a respected Rebreather diver) do his job and report back any findings.

I ask following this post perhaps the mods can lock this thread. A separate thread can be used for condolences.



Here is the facts as we know them -

35 mins into a 45-50m dive Fred was seen having a convulsion. A OC diver tried to assist Fred as he was convulsing by placing and purging a regulator in his mouth. He kept trying to get Fred breathing through his long hose. Despite his own deco obligation he used up all his back gas purging his long hose reg in an attempt to get Fred breathing. But he wasn't able to do it. He attached a line to Fred and sent a marker bag to the surface as he began his own ascent. As this all was happening at 45m he was aware that he had a lot of deco to do and that he was using all his backgas up attempting to resuscitate Fred. He ran out of back gas trying to help Fred. He had no choice but to go onto 100% O2 and ascend. He was joined by one of the divers off the boat and himself started convulsing. The diver attempted to help him in the same way he had tried to help Fred but couldn't get the regulator into his mouth as his teeth were clenched. He ascended straight to the surface unconscious and not breathing. He was brought to the boat and brought around. He was taken to a recompression chamber and miraculously after a few days released without residual problems.

A diver went down to retrieve Freds body.

He found Fred on top of the wreck at 45m and noted his O2 tank was empty, dil tank 40 bar. (this was 1st dive of trip so Fred would have had 150bar O2, 200bar dil at start of dive) Freds mouthpiece was out of his mouth and the unit was on and appeared to be working. He was carrying OC bailout but it hadnt been used.

On the surface Freds unit was checked and noted to be working but one cell was reading zero. His equipment was secured and sealed and is being sent to an independent body to inspect.


Fred was a solid diver, hugely experienced, ex commercial diver.

It can happen to any of us!

Please use a FFM

[Steve]

Very sad news. Top bloke was the 'old bull'. I will pass on details as Elsie and Fred's family OK them and as they firm rather than being theories.

Fred was one of the good guys

[Jason Blackwell]

Rest in peace “old bull”

From all here at Dive Dive Dive.

[JonnyB]

Very very sad news...
My deepest condolences to the familly and friends that are left behind.

/Jonny

[decoweenie]

I heard the news last night.

The person who told me said "Did you hear about Fred Evans ?", which I replied "No ?".

He said "You know what is coming next, right ?", which I sunk to my seat preparing for the worse since we have had a number of friends passed away over the years while diving...

The Tottori Maru was the first wreck I ever dived in S. China Sea so I have a fond memory of it, and also remember it well. Can't believe it was Fred's last dive...

I knew Fred from the KISS-diving days, and when I first pushed for the KISS-Hammerhead project. He seemed to be a very experience and solid diver which I was surprised, sadden and angry to hear about his accident.

Rest in peace, Fred!

[iani]

Rest in peace Fred. We never met but we did exchange a few emails over some cylinders I bought from him and he was most helpful in arranging shipping at no cost to Phuket.

Ian

[onetime]

Condolences to friends and family. RIP.

[schford]

I can not believe Fred is gone - it has really affected me and brings home that it can happen to any one.

It is only last week that I was reading Freds posts.

I hope you have gone to a better place Fred - I will miss you on Rebreather World. MY thoughts are with your friends and family.

Stuart

[Philippe GERIN]

Anger is what I feel now. My heart sunk when I saw Fred's name as a title of a thread associated with memorial forum. I knew what was coming next.
I can't believe it. A few weeks ago we started to put together a plan for a trip together later this year. Sad, sad day.
Rest in peace Fred. My thoughts go to your family.
My thoughts also go to the other diver who helped. I read you put your life in jeopardy to help Fred. I hope you are recovering soon. If anything, remember that you tried hard man. Go easy on yourself.
Philippe