Cpt. David Shaw - Diving accident
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Australian diver missing presumed dead
Apologies if posted elsewhere....
Saw a write-up in the West Australian a few days ago about a bloke originally from Perth, Dave Shaw (CX Capt) attempting to recover the body of a diver from a cave in South Africa.
Thought was a great thing he was doing for that guy's family - so they could bury their son....
Heard the tail end of a news item last night that he too had gone missing in the cave, wasn't sure if I had heard right. A search of the internet news confirmed it. He is missing presumed dead.
Hoping like hell it is just a mistake but it doesn't look good.
Thought would post it here as hadn't seen anything about it, and he is a pilot.
Damn shame, like we need more sadness these days.
Sympathies to his family.
Sky
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...5E1702,00.html
Saw a write-up in the West Australian a few days ago about a bloke originally from Perth, Dave Shaw (CX Capt) attempting to recover the body of a diver from a cave in South Africa.
Thought was a great thing he was doing for that guy's family - so they could bury their son....
Heard the tail end of a news item last night that he too had gone missing in the cave, wasn't sure if I had heard right. A search of the internet news confirmed it. He is missing presumed dead.
Hoping like hell it is just a mistake but it doesn't look good.
Thought would post it here as hadn't seen anything about it, and he is a pilot.
Damn shame, like we need more sadness these days.
Sympathies to his family.
Sky
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...5E1702,00.html
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Cpt. David Shaw - Diving accident
Cathay Pacific C & T Captain David Shaw (Aussie) has disappeared while deep cave diving in South Africa on the weekend. While we are waiting further news the likelhood of him been found would require a miracle.
David had his own website, check it out.
www.deepcave.com
Pink
News story
David had his own website, check it out.
www.deepcave.com
Pink
News story
Last edited by Paint The Sky Pink!; 9th Jan 2005 at 20:05.
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Further article which appeared in The West Australian this morning.
Article
What a shame this is. Someone just trying to do a favour for someone else.
Sympathies to his wife and kids, and of course the rest of the family.
Sky
Article
What a shame this is. Someone just trying to do a favour for someone else.
Sympathies to his wife and kids, and of course the rest of the family.
Sky
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What an amazingly compassionate man, a sad loss, condolences to his family.
More here for those interested.
RIP, HH.
More here for those interested.
RIP, HH.
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Recovery
It has been reported that the remains of both Mr Dreyer and Mr Shaw have now been recovered from the cave, contrary to expectation.
I suppose it was the best that could be hoped for in the circumstances At least now they can have some closure.
Condolences again for all families.
Details of service in the Collie article.
Collie Mail
I suppose it was the best that could be hoped for in the circumstances
At least now they can have some closure.Condolences again for all families.
Details of service in the Collie article.
Collie Mail
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Also some more info on the recovery in the Australian .
Seems Dave Shaw completed his mission even though he lost his own life.
RIP, HH.
Seems Dave Shaw completed his mission even though he lost his own life.
RIP, HH.
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From what I understand, both Mr Shaw and Mr Dreyer were found beneath the surface after having come free from whatever was keeping them at the bottom.
Police were reportedly considering to attempt recovery, but then they were found while the dive equipment was being removed from the cave.
The West Australian ran an article today, but it doesn't seem to be in their online version.
I am sure someone on here will know if Mr Shaw was ex-AN. I recall there was a website that listed some ex employees, but I don't think it is online any longer.
Sky
Police were reportedly considering to attempt recovery, but then they were found while the dive equipment was being removed from the cave.
The West Australian ran an article today, but it doesn't seem to be in their online version.
I am sure someone on here will know if Mr Shaw was ex-AN. I recall there was a website that listed some ex employees, but I don't think it is online any longer.
Sky
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if both bodies were found at a mid depth, then he must have made it to the bottom and recovered the body, just as he promised he would.
wether he is ex AN is irrelevent, he died doing something he loved and he completed his mission. now both families can get closure and peace of mind.
wether he is ex AN is irrelevent, he died doing something he loved and he completed his mission. now both families can get closure and peace of mind.
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Dave was with Pelair on the Westwind prior to him joining CX in 89. He was an extremely talented pilot and a pleasure to fly with as all those that did would surely remember, be they from his ag day, Pelair days or the last 15 years in CX. A very sad loss indeed. Best wishes to Anne and the family.
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Excerpt from today's Sunday Times (Perth):
RIP
Sky
Excellence, extremes & defying boundaries were all part of Dave Shaw's make-up. The 50-year-old, who was a training pilot for Cathay Pacific, had made his home in Hong Kong after leaving Perth, where his parents John & Olive and sister Judith live.
A family friend, Hong Kong vicar Michael Vickers, said the other side to Mr Shaw was compassion, wisdom and integrity. He was instrumental in a program to help Cambodian street kids get an education.
"Most of his activities were involved in doing things for other people," Mr Vickers said. "So his diving was something he used to chill out and obviously he enjoyed the challenge."
A family friend, Hong Kong vicar Michael Vickers, said the other side to Mr Shaw was compassion, wisdom and integrity. He was instrumental in a program to help Cambodian street kids get an education.
"Most of his activities were involved in doing things for other people," Mr Vickers said. "So his diving was something he used to chill out and obviously he enjoyed the challenge."
Don Shirley, who was Mr Shaw's No. 1 diver on the mission, said the recovery of Mr Dreyer's remains was a personal quest that Mr Shaw was determined to fulfill.
"Dave felt it was something he could do for the Dreyers," he said.
"Dave felt it was something he could do for the Dreyers," he said.
He had paid the ultimate price, but Mr Shaw had kept his word.
Sky
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bizjet,
thanks for clearing that up. I have been offline for nearly a week and have only just read the other posts and was not able to respond to clarify the AN stuff.
Cheers,
ST
thanks for clearing that up. I have been offline for nearly a week and have only just read the other posts and was not able to respond to clarify the AN stuff.
Cheers,
ST
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I saw a mention of the AS program in the paper last night, managed to see the last 15-20mins.
I have to say here how brave it is of his family to do such a program so soon after the sad event. It's really nice to see that they appreciate the fact that this was who Cpt Shaw was and what he loved doing. All you see is love and admiration for the husband and father.
That camera footage was just heartbreaking, and I really felt for his dive team waiting back up at the top. What a professional team they were - even though they knew it had gone terribly wrong and they had lost their friend, they all pulled together to try save Don Shirley. What truly committed people.
And it's nice to see that they won't give up doing what they love, just as their friend would have wanted them to continue.
I have to say here how brave it is of his family to do such a program so soon after the sad event. It's really nice to see that they appreciate the fact that this was who Cpt Shaw was and what he loved doing. All you see is love and admiration for the husband and father.
That camera footage was just heartbreaking, and I really felt for his dive team waiting back up at the top. What a professional team they were - even though they knew it had gone terribly wrong and they had lost their friend, they all pulled together to try save Don Shirley. What truly committed people.
And it's nice to see that they won't give up doing what they love, just as their friend would have wanted them to continue.
Saw the doco last night, the footage was very very sad to watch. A very brave act to repeat for the family of the man he saved.
Although it may not be the most appropriate forum for a discussion on the subject, it did raise a point discussed by others Ive spoken to about taking such risks when you have a loving caring family and a prosperous successful life.
Although it may not be the most appropriate forum for a discussion on the subject, it did raise a point discussed by others Ive spoken to about taking such risks when you have a loving caring family and a prosperous successful life.
Dave did more with his 50 than most people would do in twice that many years.
One can take issue with the risks he took but not the reasons he took them.
He is sorely missed.
One can take issue with the risks he took but not the reasons he took them.
He is sorely missed.