topendtorque
24th May 2008, 20:43
It seems that these cowboy operators have never heard of the extremely simple routine of pax manifests.
The spotters deserve a pat on the back for finding these dudes.
The story provides an opportunity for anyone close to the regulators of these and all tourist activities to push for proper procedure with passengers.
There's also a bit of footage of winching. in the related story.
'Three-hour delay' before lost divers alarm raised
Posted Sat May 24, 2008 2:44pm AEST
Updated 11 hours 4 minutes ago
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200805/r253486_1045038.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200805/r253486_1045034.jpg)Relief: rescuers attend to the two divers. (CQ Rescue)
Video: Divers found after 19-hour nightmare (ABC News) (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200805/r253505_1045183.asx)
Map: Mackay 4740 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/maps/map.htm?lat=-21.155&long=149.1664&caption=Mackay 4740)
Related Story: Divers found alive after night at sea (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/24/2254503.htm)
Queensland police are investigating how two foreign divers were lost in the ocean for 20 hours off the Whitsunday Islands.
The 38-year-old British man and his 40-year-old American female buddy were separated from four other divers on Bait Reef near Hayman Island about 2:00pm yesterday.
They drifted eight nautical miles before a search helicopter crew found them about 9:00am this morning.
Deputy commissioner Ian Stewart say the crew on the dive boat did not alert authorities until three hours after the divers went missing.
"Obviously there were other divers with that vessel at the time so we'll have to look at what happened in relation to their recovery or whether they were already back onboard the boat," he said.
"There are rules and regulations about keeping an eye on people in the water so we're going to have to investigate that."
RACQ rescue helicopter spokesman Philip Dowler says the divers were suffering from mild exposure.
"The rescue crews were quite surprised, they walked off the aircraft feeling quite good," he said.
Col McKenzie from Dive Queensland says Bait Reef is renowned for having strong currents... and the divers did everything right once they surfaced.
"They've stayed together, they've obviously got positive flotation and their safety sausages proved their worth," he said.
More than 10 helicopters and numerous boats were involved in the search.
The spotters deserve a pat on the back for finding these dudes.
The story provides an opportunity for anyone close to the regulators of these and all tourist activities to push for proper procedure with passengers.
There's also a bit of footage of winching. in the related story.
'Three-hour delay' before lost divers alarm raised
Posted Sat May 24, 2008 2:44pm AEST
Updated 11 hours 4 minutes ago
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200805/r253486_1045038.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200805/r253486_1045034.jpg)Relief: rescuers attend to the two divers. (CQ Rescue)
Video: Divers found after 19-hour nightmare (ABC News) (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200805/r253505_1045183.asx)
Map: Mackay 4740 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/maps/map.htm?lat=-21.155&long=149.1664&caption=Mackay 4740)
Related Story: Divers found alive after night at sea (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/24/2254503.htm)
Queensland police are investigating how two foreign divers were lost in the ocean for 20 hours off the Whitsunday Islands.
The 38-year-old British man and his 40-year-old American female buddy were separated from four other divers on Bait Reef near Hayman Island about 2:00pm yesterday.
They drifted eight nautical miles before a search helicopter crew found them about 9:00am this morning.
Deputy commissioner Ian Stewart say the crew on the dive boat did not alert authorities until three hours after the divers went missing.
"Obviously there were other divers with that vessel at the time so we'll have to look at what happened in relation to their recovery or whether they were already back onboard the boat," he said.
"There are rules and regulations about keeping an eye on people in the water so we're going to have to investigate that."
RACQ rescue helicopter spokesman Philip Dowler says the divers were suffering from mild exposure.
"The rescue crews were quite surprised, they walked off the aircraft feeling quite good," he said.
Col McKenzie from Dive Queensland says Bait Reef is renowned for having strong currents... and the divers did everything right once they surfaced.
"They've stayed together, they've obviously got positive flotation and their safety sausages proved their worth," he said.
More than 10 helicopters and numerous boats were involved in the search.