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Foul-up cited in deaths of 2 Coast Guard divers

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 22, 2006

SEATTLE - One of two Coast Guard divers from Florida who perished during a training dive in the Arctic last summer plunged toward the ocean floor in an uncontrolled descent, suffocated and developed lung trauma during a rapid rise to the surface, according to an autopsy report summary.

By the time the two divers from the icebreaker Healy had been pulled up, "one diver's (air) tank was completely empty and the other ... contained 90 (pounds per square inch)" - the latter insufficient to deliver air to the diver, the report said.

The report was provided to the Associated Press by William Hill Jr., of St. Augustine, the father of Lt. Jessica Hill, who died along with Boatswain's Mate Steven Duque of Miami on Aug. 17, 500 miles north of Alaska.

The Coast Guard has released little information about the deaths but relieved the Healy's commander soon after the deaths, citing a loss of confidence in his ability. A spokesman said the Coast Guard would not discuss the autopsy report pending the outcome of its investigations.

Hill, 31, and Duque, 22, had slipped into a patch of open water near the ship's bow, planning to dive only to 20 feet, William Hill said. A support team held ropes attached to them lest they become disoriented under the ice.

The autopsy summary said Hill suffered "an uncontrolled descent to a possible depth of 189 feet."

Her father said he didn't understand how the dive support team could have let that happen. "Why ... did they let out that much rope?" he asked.

The dive support team reportedly pulled the divers to the surface after becoming concerned. Attempts to resuscitate Hill and Duque failed.

Duque's family could not immediately be reached to confirm his cause of death.

[Last modified November 22, 2006, 07:22:21]