Tödlicher Unfall in einer gefluteten Mine in Neufundland (Canada)

Der 1. Bericht:
Am 5. Februar 2007 verunglückte ein US-Taucher in einer gefluteten ehemaligen Eisenerz-Mine in Neufundland (Canada) . Er war Team Mitglied einer internationalen Gruppe Taucher, die den Auftrag hatten, die Mine zu erkunden. Das Gebiet soll in ein Adventure Tourist Resort umgewandelt und die Mine künftig für Cave Diving genutzt werden.

Der 2. Bericht:
Dieser geht auf die Resultate der Autopsie ein: es war eine arterielle Gasembolie. Eine solche tritt bekannterweise am häufigsten in Zusammenhang mit einem sehr raschen (Not-)aufstieg auf.

Zeitungsmeldung 1

Zeitungsmeldung 2

Der englische Originalbericht Nr. 1:
CanadaEast
RCMP identify American diver who died exploring flooded iron ore mine in N.L.
Published Monday February 5th, 2007

WABANA, N.L. (CP) - An American diver who died while exploring a collection of flooded iron ore mines in Newfoundland has been identified as Joseph Steffen, 51, of Ohio.

RCMP say he was brought to the surface by other members of the dive team at the Bell Island site late Sunday but they couldn't revive him. "The cause of death is still under investigation," said Const. Derek Rayner. "No further details will be released until the next of kin have been notified."

Police said in an earlier release Steffen was pronounced dead in hospital, though it was unclear whether he drowned.

The man was part of a group of international cave divers brought in by Ocean Quest Adventure Resort and the Bell Island Heritage Society to explore the mine shafts.

The expedition began last Monday and was set to last until this Friday.
It was organized to examine the integrity of the underwater mine shafts, identify any hazards and assess the possibility of establishing a full-time cave-diving operation.

Bell Island, the largest of several islands in Conception Bay, northwest of St. John's, is a tourist destination for scuba divers and shipwreck enthusiasts. From 1895 until 1966, more than 78 million tonnes of iron ore were mined at the No. 2 mine, the world's largest submarine iron ore mine.

Der englische Originalbericht Nr. 2:

Air embolism killed Bell Island diver: autopsy
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 | 7:00 AM NT

CBC News
An American diver who died while exploring a flooded Newfoundland mine suffered an air embolism, an autopsy has determined.

Joe Steffen, 51, was found Sunday afternoon near the ceiling of one of the flooded tunnels in the abandoned iron ore mine in Bell Island, about 35 kilometres west of St. John's.

Joe Steffen, 51, died because of an air embolism, an autopsy has found. (CBC) Members of Steffen's dive team attempted to revive him but failed.

In diving, an air embolism can occur when a diver ascends too quickly, and gas bubbles enter the bloodstream. An embolism can become fatal, for instance, if a bubble rests in the heart.

Steffen was a member of an international team of divers who had been invited to explore the No. 2 mine at Bell Island by Ocean Quest Adventures, which is hoping to develop the site as an adventure tourism attraction.

The team resumed its exploration on Monday.

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