- Incapacitated diver demands clarity on covert operations
Barely one week after a Scuba diver was found dead after engaging in an unapproved diving operation at Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Delta State, another illegal diving operation has resulted in a tragic incident with the diver incapacitated and in critical health conditions in Lagos Anchorage area has been reported.
The Diving Personnel Development Foundation (DPDF) revealed this as it condemned illegal diving practices and advised contractors and divers to ensure requisite approvals are obtained before carrying out any dive operation.
In the latest incident, a scuba diver, Mr. Joseph Michael Udo, has called out BW Tech Global Logistics Services PVT Limited to explain the accident which has rendered him incapacitated unable to resume diving operations.
Udo posited that he was contracted by BW Tech in April 2023 for a diving operation at Lagos Anchorage where he recalled taking two dives safely on different days, but is unable to remember the other events of the diving operations of 27th of April 2023 that has left him incapacitated.
In a report disseminated by the DPDF, Udo woke up in the hospital on the 5th of May 2023 and upon inquiring why he was in the hospital some staff of BW. Tech (who were in the hospital) told him that he had an underwater SCUBA accident and had been on emergency care in the hospital for nine days.
“I have not been in a normal health condition, though the company had engaged the services of a Hyperbaric Doctor and a Neurologist to get me back to normal health, my present condition is life threatening, I am not normal. I am deeply concerned about what happened to me on that fateful day -27th April 2023.”
“If it was a dive accident as claimed by the company, then they should give vivid explanation and report of the incident, so that I can be treated accordingly and urgently”, Udo stated in an appeal to the leadership of National Association of Professional Divers (NAPROD).
He called on government, regulatory authorities and non-governmental organisations to investigate the matter, while also appealing for an urgent but continuous medical treatment until he is properly healed.
Udo currently suffers poor vision (tunnel vision), shock reactions, numbness on the foot and palm, inability to stand without aid and inform grip when holding objects.
Meanwhile, some possible causes of the incident following DPDF investigations include; substandard equipment, inexperience, limited volume of air in the cylinder, inadequate size of team, unqualified dive supervisor.
Other possible causes include; absence of Hyperbaric chamber onsite, no emergency response plan/procedure and unsafe diving operation, poor selection/supervision of contractor/client.
The Foundation also observed that no approval was granted to the company for the commencement of any diving operation within Nigeria territorial water in line with the Diving at Work Regulations, 2018.
DPDF in collaboration with Blue Pheonix Marine (UK) Ltd and Ultrablue Centre have supported the hyperbaric treatment of Mr. Joseph Udo as Type 2 DCI dive accident is suspected to have occurred during dive.
