Diver Drowns While Trying to Deepen Lake Channel

[Clanggedin]

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP) -- A professional diver who was working to deepen a lake channel in Dixie National Forest has drowned.
The Garfield County Sheriff's office says 46-year-old Tim Loveria of Conklin, N.Y., was helping remove a temporary dam on Panguitch Lake when he didn't resurface around 1 p.m. Tuesday. Other divers on Loveria's team found his body in about 18 feet of water. He was pronounced dead at Garfield County Memorial Hospital.
The dive crew had put the temporary dam in place in order to pump water from the southern Utah lake and dig a deeper channel.
An autopsy will be performed.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

ksl.com - Diver Drowns While Trying to Deepen Lake Channel

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Clanggedin

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP) -- A professional diver who was working to deepen a lake channel in Dixie National Forest has drowned.
The Garfield County Sheriff's office says 46-year-old Tim Loveria of Conklin, N.Y., was helping remove a temporary dam on Panguitch Lake when he didn't resurface around 1 p.m. Tuesday. Other divers on Loveria's team found his body in about 18 feet of water. He was pronounced dead at Garfield County Memorial Hospital.
The dive crew had put the temporary dam in place in order to pump water from the southern Utah lake and dig a deeper channel.
An autopsy will be performed.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

ksl.com - Diver Drowns While Trying to Deepen Lake Channel

You wonder why there was no other diver there to assist, or a safety diver present to go under when he did not resurface.

[Clanggedin]

Something else must have happened to him (heart attack, etc..). He was only 18' deep.

[pnevai]

I agree it mist have been some medical incident or contaminated air. At 18 feet you have to do only a litle more than just stand up.

[texdiveguy]

Very sad news....but 18ft. is plenty of water to drown in if thats even what happened.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by pnevai

I agree it mist have been some medical incident or contaminated air. At 18 feet you have to do only a litle more than just stand up.

Unless he was pinned somehow removing the temporary dam, and overexerted himself trying to get free.

[WaScubaDude]

Originally Posted by terrillja

Unless he was pinned somehow removing the temporary dam, and overexerted himself trying to get free.

suction at a pipe inlet, or serious undertow near a flow point????

[Steve Scuba]

Tragic as this is, it leaves a lot of questions. 18 inches is enough to drown in, but I don't understand a professional diver drowining in 18 feet without extenuating circumstances (such as some of the suggestions above.)

The lone comment on the article contained in the link was "Autopsy?! Why? He drowned! Duh!". That got me a little bent out of shape.

[No Misses]

Originally Posted by Steve Scuba

Tragic as this is, it leaves a lot of questions. 18 inches is enough to drown in, but I don't understand a professional diver drowining in 18 feet without extenuating circumstances (such as some of the suggestions above.)

The lone comment on the article contained in the link was "Autopsy?! Why? He drowned! Duh!". That got me a little bent out of shape.

I make it a point never to read the "comment section" that accompanies online news articles. The authors of the comments tend to be even less informed than the reporter who wrote the article. JM2c

[Steve Scuba]

Originally Posted by No Misses

I make it a point never to read the "comment section" that accompanies online news articles. The authors of the comments tend to be even less informed than the reporter who wrote the article. JM2c

You are very wise. When I read the article comment sections, I often find myself offended by one article comment or another, ususally due to the (perceived) ignorance of the author. I think I might adopt your philosophy.