Tragedy struck Saturday morning, Sept.8, when a 73-year-old scuba diver drowned while diving off the tide pool area near the sewage treatment plant in Point Loma.
Apparently the as-yet to be identified man became separated from his dive partner. The dive partner called 911 and just before 11 a.m. emergency crews responded by boat after they received reports of a scuba diver in distress. One news report had a bystander pull the unconscious guy out of the water by the time they arrived.
A lifeguard started CPR and the Coast Guard transported him by boat to a nearby Naval Base Point Loma, but the diver was pronounced dead on the scene.
There are reports the diver was using a rebreather device, which is inherently more dangerous than open circuit scuba. Rebreathers recirculate oxygen and if the CO2 is not removed it can cause hypercapnia. Symptoms of hypercapnia include confusion, drowsiness and loss of consciousness.
It’s unclear if the rebreather device had anything to do with the drowning.
The fire department and lifeguards are investigating the incident and interviewing the man’s dive partner.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death.
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The victim has been identified: The scuba diver who died over the weekend after he was found unconscious in the water off Point Loma was identified Wednesday as a 73-year-old Poway resident.
William Ernest Brown went diving with a friend Saturday morning, but the friend lost contact with Brown a little before 10:55 a.m., according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-williambrown-scuba-death-20180912-story.html