Diver Breaks Down: Lost Bell The Wildrake Disaster

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www.patreon.com/WaterlineStories Stories from Below the Waterline

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this video and would like to watch more videos from this channel without any ads, consider joining our Patreon. The link is in the description. You can join for free or select a membership with benefits ranging from ad free videos through to early access and live q and a calls. I look forward to meeting you there. www.patreon.com/WaterlineStories

[@joncrow3228]

I’m disappointed that the man who ordered them to get back to work didn’t “accidentally” fall overboard one night, never to be found.

[@waterlinestories]

Now that's a story 'd love to tell

[@fahhcue850]

@@waterlinestories Rite! Alternative ending perhaps..🤷🏻‍♂️🤣😝

[@waterlinestories]

@@fahhcue850 Its a deep dark hole. So magical. I could see a KZbin Channel dedicated to alternate endings.

[@fahhcue850]

@@waterlinestories That would be a cool idea actually!!

[@waterlinestories]

@@fahhcue850 Yeah it would. hm 🤔

[@OneBiasedOpinion]

The worst part, to me, is that the two divers would have survived more than long enough if the people in charge hadn’t been in such a rush that they tried to yank the bell up via the umbilical. That one decision put those two men on a timer and made sure nobody else had time to help them either.

[@TBdown70]

I was a Sat diver in the gulf of Mexico and have done plenty of bell dives but being certified in underwater welding I wood go tack weld the shackle from the Crain to the bell and never had the Crain line detach from the Bell. I did have a few dive supervisors tell me what are you doing that for it's going to make it harder to replace when we need to replace it and I would tell them well if you are replacing it then it doesn't matter when you cut it off you will put a new one on.

[@frisk151]

@@TBdown70 As someone that was never a dive professional, much LESS a saturation diver.. I breeze through all the OW "learners permit" for tourists, and quickly maxed out.. NEVER went padi (etc) pro.. I was diving for ME and could afford.. It.. From Wreck, Cave..Full Tech on both and then some.. I actually studied Sat diving quite a bit after I spent OC or eCCR mix levels.. I have always honestly been curious about commercial Sat Divers.. My truly ex military tech instructor told me.. And, I mean VERBATIM: "If you fawk up, you will wish you died on the bottom than popping to the surface"... That is with my deco obligation on Trimix and (I can't recall, other depths with heliox and a few other additives).. The last thing he played for me was a saturation "mistake' (overlook) where they got vented (didn't know that was possible - but I was new)... I dove 3-4 times a day, mostly not with any significant obligation, and only a few fk ups that made me expedite getting topside and thinking I might need a chamber.. LONG WINDED me aside.. Bro... Blue water diving is touristy, or life changing.. ("Whatever")... Saturation commercial (is there another?) diving is more extreme than most people know.. Side note: This may sound awesome, scary, or clueless.. FAVORITE BOOK = "Without Remorse"... Having a deco "recompression chamber" would be so cool.. :p Again, apologies for the long windedness.. I just have serious respect for you sat guys... And, someone stabbed their poor little toe... ;)

[@nate2838]

@@TBdown70 Well said.

[@markiobook8639]

@@TBdown70 that should be standard procedure. I am sure the HR would completely approve comparing the OHSA costs vs the tiny outlay of grinding off a few tacks (I assume the whole thing is going to be x-rayed anyway).

[@TBdown70]

@@markiobook8639 HR that's funny, no HR on a rig when you're diving. You have dive supervisor, divers, diver tenders, tenders. As far as x-ray on a dive bell never seen that, I have seen them do visual inspection of welds and hatches and gas systems. I have also seen stupid dive supervisors that should of never been supervisor so what ever we could do to save our own ass we did and didn't give a fuck what they had to say about it.

[@mr_b_hhc]

My father was a saturation diver in the early 80's and some of his stories are no less horrifying. The pursuit of profit cares not for the individual.

[@waterlinestories]

Wow. The 80's was like the wild West for sat diving. I'm sure he's got plenty to say.

[@mr_b_hhc]

@@waterlinestories Yeah, his diving supervisor logs made fascinating reading as a child.

[@waterlinestories]

🤣 Bedtime stories. Those are the kind of logs I'd love you read. Morbid curiosities

[@ramonamcmahon3248]

@@waterlinestories wasn't just the diving industry, the whole industry was the same, it was only after Piper Alpha that health and safety was taken seriously, worked for 20+ years in the oil industry and many a head shaken moments experienced.

[@Jenna_Miles]

Would love to hear some of his stories!

[@jdholbrook33]

Late 70's , early 80's I was working in the gulf of Mexico on a drilling Semi off the coast of Louisiana in 500ish feet of water. We had the complete dive bell setup on our rig and I had seen a few divers in the decomp chamber for weeks after dives. During my time home (2 weeks work, 2 weeks home) three divers were killed on their way down due to the gas mixture being incorrect. Yes it was like the wild west out there. I never got hurt but 3 of my friends were killed, not at the same time. One was involved in a fire from trapped gas that killed 3 on the rig, another was from a large hydraulic hose that broke and hit him in the head. The third was from being sprayed with Koomey fluid under 15,000 psi. Penetrated his skin and poisoned him. Nothing they could do about it. Definitely one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs. I survived from 1977 till 2014 without any major injuries. Pays to keep your eyes open and your brain engaged.

[@waterlinestories]

Hats off. Life at sea is hard and to stay at it that long is an accomplishment. I don't suppose you know the names of the guys that died from wrong gas mixture? Or the vessel and rough dates? I've been looking for a story about that. I know it's pretty morbid. I'm a diving instructor and the reason I started this channel was to tell stories that in some way educate on how these things work.

[@tukes1234]

I thought being a woman was the most difficult job on the planet

[@jacobishii6121]

I have a buddy that was in an oil rig fire,on of the rare few that survived massive surface burns on most of his body

[@miketheknife3072]

A little luck helps too lol

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

Use the newspapers to do a search or us govt documents from OSHA or ntsb all public records. Library could help.

[@mustang6599]

Granted, it was a whole different era back then, but if on a day anyone with as much experience as these two divers likely had, if you really don't feel comfortable with a situation that you actually wonder about surviving, you have to walk away. 38 years ago was in a work situation I really for the first time did not feel comfortable at all, so I refused. I was told I was no longer needed. 2 of the 7 people in the crew died, including my replacement. Just saying.

[@waterlinestories]

Wow. Well done for walking away. What line of work if you don't mind me asking?

[@morad5119]

I believe you're right. Please tell us your story.

[@robert48044]

This isn't so much about diving but what you said about walking away. I saw a movie once where a teen was kidnapped by some other teens, the kidnapped didnt know that was the situation he thought he was just partying with some new friends. They go to dig a hole in the desert to deal with his body when they kill him because the kidnappers didnt realize the penalty for kidnapping a minor when they did it. The person whos watching the victim has a change of heart while the others are digging and tries to get the victim to leave with him before the diggers get back. He didn't just come out and say" if we don't leave now you'll die" I think about that scene all the time. It mostly reminds me to listen to the little voice and listen for clues I might be in danger where I am.

[@waterlinestories]

@@robert48044 Gotta listen to your gut. So often we want to believe in people but we also want to see how it plays out. We need to know and the only way to know is to stay.

[@markjackson3531]

ALWAYS listen to your gut, can't be said enough times. glad you're still here, brother.

[@fernandomarques5166]

Fun fact: the Wildrake was sold to the Brazilian Navy in 1988 and was renamed Felinto Perry, pennant number K-11, becoming a Submarine Rescue Vessel, ithe ship's motto was "Mergulhe tranquilo, estamos atentos" (Dive easy, we're on watch) she operated in this capacity until december 14th, 2020 when she was decomissioned and her flag was passed to her succesor NSS Guillobel (K-120).

[@waterlinestories]

Interesting

[@michaelfrost4584]

As an ex diver, this is soo sad, and what lowlifes the bosses were. R.I.P.

[@ethanspaziani1070]

They still are

[@zacharyradford5552]

Rather disgusting how Britain treats the incident as well one man’s family got just under half a million American Dollars the other got under $8000. Not to mention in 2000 the records went “missing”.

[@markiobook8639]

Completely agree. My father worked to collate the workplace accidents for the UK OHSA equivalent for the Crown (I guess the US Attorney general office) to prosecute in cases of negligence and more often than not utter disregard for well-established procedure, protocol, common sense and precaution. His work was often brought home and I saw many files of horrific workplace deaths that never made it to the media- like the remains of guys who were unjamming the wood shredders in paper mills without doing the proper full electrical lockout- which other uninformed operators would then power up. So many preventable deaths.

[@markiobook8639]

@@zacharyradford5552 cannot agree more.

[@markiobook8639]

@TyaxComp who knows what can happen if an over-worked mother distracted by a backseat of toddlers was to have a toy thrown under her brake pedal.

[@JediMasterFO]

When a situation of grave importance is dealt with impatience and carelessness, disaster smiles with gleeful anticipation.

[@calendarpage]

I've seen several other versions of this tragedy, but I think yours is the most informative and well done. Good job. It is a shame that the families could not obtain justice.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. It seems like there were lots of loopholes back then that allowed companies to get away with murder. Thanks for watching

[@a7xfanforever556]

I agree calandarpage

[@hodwooker5584]

I worked in the oilfields of Wyoming in the late 1970’s. Even in the onshore oil fields there was a real wild west attitude by the hands and the oil industry companies. That attitude eventually drove me out of the oilfield. I cannot imagine what it must have been like offshore. 🎉

[@bluewaters3100]

I had many friends who I went to school with that went up o the North Slope in Alaska when they started the Alaska pipeline. When I see what has been going on in the oil rig business after the 70's I think guys were just excited to be mAKING SOME GOOD MONEY and they paid with their lives because it was a hands on learning experience job. New regulations made it safer as the years went by......I hope!

[@MrPepsilon]

Being an ex commercial diver in the oilfields of South East Asia in the eighties I could not agree with you more. The companies considered you as disposables. It was wild for sure. Working offshore for 8 week long stretches and most of us in the mid twenties, it was wild west. Speargun attached to the outside of the bell. Waterskiing between the rigs! Or a bellman leaving the bell after the diver had returned, holding his breath, to clear the diver's umbilical being stucked on the outside of the bell. At 70m depth! Most guys quit after 2-3 yrs, or after their first major incident. But damn, being semi retired now, I still miss those days.

[@-Eternal-Damnation-]

I'm amazed you don't have more subscribers!? I know nothing about saturation diving but your content is so well made, you really know how to tell these events in a clear way that is really captivating. I reckon your channel will blow up soon.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks, I hope so

[@ripwednesdayadams]

I like how you actually talk about the person’s life- not just their death or reduce them to the worst moment of their lives. Sadly that’s rare on KZbin these days. Although it does stick with you. I feel like I have a running list of names that I think about all the time.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for that feedback. Ive wondered if its the right way to go. So often if I do talk about the people its limited info and often I have to infer what I think it is rather than what I can confirm with information on the internet.

[@homie8437]

@@waterlinestories This is very subjective but I really appreciate the closure that you added to your longer format recent episodes as opposed to some of the earlier 5 minute clips that typically end when the disaster concludes.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for your thoughts. I prefer the longer format where there is more info. The shorter format ones I tried but there is so little info to go on and almost no info about the people involved which is why they end so abruptly. We live and learn

[@Tom-tk3du]

I worked offshore on Thistle “A” for over 2 years and was out there when this tragic incident happened. This video provides the best explanation I’ve heard for what happened.

[@mi5jason]

Watching these stories makes me appreciate my diving job even more. My longest dives are only 4 hours. I only dive nitrox in a no decompression environment. Sometimes if I get greedy I will go into decompression. The variables I have to deal with are trivial compared to Sat diving. I can rescue myself if I have to. Even with the relative safety of my work compared SAT diving we have still had 2 young men die in the last few years. Most of the time we’re just fighting boredom while doing our work. I’ll take lower pay I get to see my wife most nights. The other end of Commercial Diving is still fascinating to me though. I Subscribed to the channel nice work on the videos. Important to tell these stories.

[@Forbiddensirenz]

The horrors of profit over people. Well done and researched video. I’ve seen a lot on this subject, but this was probably the best description and adding about their lives and who they were really made it.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for saying so.

[@adoe2305]

It's equivalent to third world slave laborers dying to make your computer. Computers over people?

[@charlesfaure1189]

The cigarrette and alcohol industries exist.

[@gamers-xh3uc]

@@charlesfaure1189not really that’s different people want to buy them but this men didn’t want to do this

[@Herringautomall]

Something to note about stories like this: you always hear somehow that the person knew something wasn’t right, the feeling was off, there was red flags, somehow they have some feeling that things are about to go wrong, and they go anyways. Always always always listen to your gut instinct.. it’s there for a reason. If at any time the vibe is wrong, stop. Please just stop, and think. Be patient, and it will be revealed to you and you’ll be alive. The guy wrote in his own journal he didn’t know if he’d make it out alive. He felt something and ignored it. Another commenter said he had a job similar, but for whatever reason wasn’t comfortable with the new plan or whatever, he decided he’s not going so the company says okay we don’t need you then, and then 2 men die on the mission including the one who took his place. What are the odds?? I heard another story where a daughter was begging her dad not to go to work that day because something would happen, he gives her a kiss and leaves anyways, to die and never make it back that day. Listen to the God and the signs around you. They’re always there.

[@demisfarrugia2824]

Your narration is beyond excellent. Thank you for sharing this gut-wrenching story! RIP 😔

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. Yes it’s one that sticks with you

[@asc.445]

Typical story of offshore incompetence. I've worked in the oil/ gas industry for 30 years, it really does employ people way above their abilities.

[@waterlinestories]

I cant really comment on this. But I can see there is certainly a big influence from headquarters to keep things moving at the lowest possible cost. There will always be pressure that makes people do stupid things. Day to day, there arent major problems but when you deal with complex and dangerous systems, something is bound to line up to go wrong. As far as I can tell, the contracts are awarded as paid on completion and penalised for lost time. They wont be paid if it doesnt get done and if it gets done late then theres a loss. Thats after the contract was sold to the lowest bidder. Just stacking up against safety.

[@asc.445]

@@waterlinestories Yes especially with drilling operations, down time costs the contractor a fortune, even taking an hour or 2 a week to keep the equipment correctly maintained is avoided.

[@jdholbrook33]

@@asc.445 The last rig I worked on, downtime cost the company $17,000 per minute so yeah.. downtime can be a big pressure and cause you to do stupid things.

[@drew2364]

That’s why the oil/gas industry needs to die..,

[@asc.445]

@@drew2364 No. It just needs competent personnel.

[@phillipward2741]

I worked offshore in the mid 70s. Safety was the last thing on any companies minds. If you refused to do anything. You got flown of the rig. Never to return.

[@waterlinestories]

So Ive heard. Makes for a one sided arrangement

[@markiobook8639]

That's crazy. OHSA must be being paid off.

[@paigeturner7788]

You’re quite the storyteller! I love the videos. Rest in Peace to both men on board.

[@srednivashtar5432]

It’s very clear just how much research you’ve put into your videos, and how much effort you put in telling the story in a thorough, but compelling manner. Very good work, sir.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks

[@philcourteney4328]

I’m not a diver, but I’ve met a few through work. I have no skin in this game, but I understand about dangerous working conditions. These videos are fascinating, and give me a far better appreciation for the face by the commercial sat divers I’ve met. Brave lads. Sh*t can go very sideways, very quickly, in many different ways!

[@waterlinestories]

So true

[@nevillebransby8561]

Your picture is of an SBM, not a SALM. The drop weights could not be released because they were tied off either rope. The bell did not have a stage so the trunking was buried in the seabed. The givers could not have exited the bell even if they wanted to.

[@Velereonics]

And due to mistakes or negligence that arent your fault at all. Im not afraid of dying if the way I die is due to something I did. What I am afraid of is dying because of something someone else did or didnt do, especially if that person is incapable of understanding the gravity of causing someone's death

[@joelzsheridancomedy3983]

Great story telling of such a tragedy. Why didn’t they go to the rescue bell? Maybe that was explained and I missed it; you certainly did a good job explaining the complicated rescue process !

[@waterlinestories]

I should have said. It was floated as an idea but dismissed. It was then used as a technique successfully in subsequent rescues. It hasn't been done before so I think they were nervous to try.

[@Staf1968]

looking back on my career I thought some engineers and crew did 'crazy and irresponsible shit' back in the 90's early 2000. Some engineers (most of them) didn't have a clue. Not even understanding when we did dive to 20/ 30 meters or something without a Chamber that 'Staying down there' for 10 more minutes to finish a job can lead to extensive deco stops, Hypothermia, and so on, I actively experienced how everything got safer and more and better regulated. I often saw engineers losing it, because there was fack all to see on the Cam due to bad to no Vis. often accusing us of their failure. We always said 'Shit rolls downhill, and you can't go any deeper than us'. I have utmost and deep respect for those divers back then, they paved a safer road for future divers, sometimes at a heavy cost. I sat here watching this in disbelief knowing what was going to happen with a big lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

[@franzvanjulio5523]

I’m in amazement of the courage of people to face among the most vulnerable and scariest circumstances we’ve been able to concoct. My hat is off to everyone who has done this kind of work.

[@indefatigable7492]

This channel is great! So refreshing to find a channel with sensible and grammatical narration

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

Glad I found this channel I watch so many channels like this and I recommend they tune in and learn a thing or two..Clear straight to the point without any music or drama..Subbed 👏

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks

[@caitcasali3207]

Great video. I love the way you report on these tragic events without being exploitive. Well done as always 💜💛💜

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. And thanks for watching

[@cliftonsargent1572]

I’ve heard this story on 2 other channels and AGAIN you have shown so much more content. Your killing it

[@waterlinestories]

More coming next year. I'm away at the moment

[@irmavep9917]

Such an exceptional and high quality video to tell these men's stories. Definitely subscribing

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. I appreciate that

[@-xirx-]

​@@waterlinestories may I ask, do you use much stock footage? I was wondering if you use video footage from the incidents? Thank you for shining a light on these incredible stories. I have always been fascinated by diving & saturation diving but know little about it before I discovered your channel. ✌️

[@CharlieApples]

What a terrible way to go. Waiting and waiting and waiting, completely powerless to save yourself and at the mercy of people who couldn’t care less.

[@sebastienarthur6405]

Some excellent commentary which treats its viewers with a level of sophistication. Well done.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks that’s really great to hear.

[@captainobvious9188]

I read a report of this some years ago, and if I recall correctly, they only had space blankets to keep warm in case of hot water disconnect. The industry implemented the mummy bags after this incident.

[@waterlinestories]

Right, I guess not surprising. I think this was one where many lessons were learned.

[@bhartley868]

The divers might just as well have been on the moon, help was too far away and would take too long. Real life is not a movie, actions have consequences. I was attending a notable commercial diving school of merit, in about this timeframe. A instructor drew two simple stick figure divers with round heads on the chalkboard. The empty circles he said symbolized Divers have no brains ! I took the hint and did not go to the North sea .

[@waterlinestories]

I think the North Sea is a rough place to be at the best of times. Taking that into Sat Diving and adding crazy profit driven systems is just an incredible mix of risk.

[@smoothpicker]

Tragic! I hadn't heard of this one before. You do a fantastic job telling the story. I'm a new subscriber.

[@waterlinestories]

Well thanks for subscribing and watching. I hope you enjoy the channel. Welcome aboard

[@cw4608]

I wasn’t aware of this occupation. Thanks for explaining it all so clearly. So sad for these men.

[@markiobook8639]

These guys are the ones who should be on the million a year salaries. Not the Boards of Directors.

[@Pretermit_Sound]

This was a rough one to watch/listen to. Especially the diary entry his wife read at the end. You have a remarkable talent for telling these stories however. Been subbed for awhile already, but I gotta say again, great work 👍✌🏻🇺🇸

[@Cheeseatingjunlista]

I was on the Atlantic 2 semisub off the Thistle, during this event 3 miles off, we were pumping water into the well, thus increasing pressure. The Wildrake was huge, but useless. For a couple of days it was an awful roller coaster of hope and despair, with a growing gut pain of knowledge that they were doomed. We knew how cold that water was

[@jeffreycollier8798]

How have I never heard anything from this channel??? This is incredible.

[@frankhaunter4291]

A perfectly researched and nicely presented document, really great job! Thank you!

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for saying so. I appreciate that

[@semperparatus678]

As a Able Bodied Seaman Unlimiter/ Boatswain/ Subsea Crane Operator. I love this channel. I work with divers and ROV's alot, 26 years experience and going. Current rotation is 28/14, 28 days on ship with 14 days off.

[@waterlinestories]

Amazing, I'd love to pick your brain

[@daveroche6522]

Heartbreaking. Plus as for Masterson [15;55] - what a prick! Thankfully, things have changed. OH WAIT - how many times have I heard managers saying "Great, I can prove it wasn't MY fault"? Far too many. Thank you for uploading - I never heard of this tragedy until now. R.I.P. lads.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for joining in

[@markiobook8639]

Ye, it used to be a lot like that in Australia and UK. Finally even conservatives got sick of men dying at work and the versions of the US OHSA were put in place. OHSA goes a bit over the top- but compared to the years when Ozzie carpenters would work all summer shirtless then in the retirement years have awful skin cancer- at the coal mine dad was HR manager- there was a 3 strike rule the Unions agreed to if the company provided adequate PPE (Company wrote this off as tax break)- didn't have to be fancy German or Scandinavian this that and the other- merely compliant- (there were boxes of ear-plugs, £1 safety specs- always a few hi-viz vests and hard-hats lying about) if an employee was not with full PPE 3 times- you're sacked. Don't go running to union because they spent a lot of effort and money in arbitration. The worst thing was so many preventable accidents and fatalities.

[@waterlinestories]

@@markiobook8639 I know its not the same but I think the whole world has shifted their thinking about safety. When I was old enough to sit in the front seat of the car we didnt wear seat belts. My mom would just shove her arm out and stop me flying through the window if she had to brake suddenly. By the time I go my drivers licence the cops were starting to think about handing out fines for not wearing a seatbelt. Now I cant think of anyone who doesnt strap their kids in properly and wear their own seatbelt. OK I grew up in South Africa so maybe we were behind the curve but Im sure the process is similar the world over.

[@markiobook8639]

@@waterlinestories No, you're not behind- it's the same all over. I was in Indonesia a decade- 1995-2005- I saw on the skyscrapers men in flip flops and sunglasses welding (superb welders, bricklayers, tilers, masons etc btw), everyworker in flip flops at most, somtimes bare feet- then progress to workplace signs demanding full PPE in Indonesian and how to register with the safety officer, with mandatory basic first aid (like how to knock an eletrocuted man to safety with brooms, or dress a severe wound), how to fight small fires, hard hats, hi-viz vests, and most important- harnesses for working at heights- it used to be common to have a couple of fatal falls a day putting up skyscrapers. The government just got sick of it all (not that it pays benefits- it just was pssed off at fewer taxpayers). It's a better place all round I think.

[@russbentley7677]

These true stories are so informative. Important documentary journalism.

[@toddlosure4793]

Really impressed with content and how many folks you responded to in the comment section. You've earned a sub. 👍

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks, I try and read everything and respond to as much as I can. Particulary if it's directed my way. Welcome aboard

[@Yokes27]

My 9 meae old son and I watch alot of boat and water videos and stumbled across your channel a few weeks back and love it. You tell a great story and also convey technical details to the point a 9 year old is able to follow along and retain most if not the entire story

[@waterlinestories]

Brilliant. That's made my day. Thanks so much for sharing. I've always been fascinated by stories about the ocean. What's the draw for you guys to boats and water?

[@5amH45lam]

Your correct application of the exceedingly over/erroneously-used word, _literally,_ is very much appreciated!

[@waterlinestories]

Ha ha. Used sparingly and appropriately its a great word.

[@mattdragonrider7888]

The diving companies were mostly driven by profit , the large outfits treated their divers like cattle , on one job the weather was building and the sea state was rough , we expressed our concern and were told that if we did not get in the water ,they would "open another box of divers " ,the smaller companies treated their guys better , there was also a Black list ranby the diving companies , if you stepped out of line you were put on the black list and could not find employment afterwards . i "retirethan d " after my son was born ,i figured a live father was better than a photograph on his wall

[@waterlinestories]

Interesting. That's the impression I get but I've had others divers tell me the blacklists disappear as soon as the companies need divers.

[@charlesfaure1189]

The cigarrette industry actually kills over a million people a year in the USA alone, and continues to sell to children in many parts of the world. Where regulation doesn't prevent them, owners and their executive minions leave a trail of dead behind them.

[@kennethm.pricejr.8921]

Wow! What a story. I didn't know divers faced such danger.

[@5amH45lam]

Given the criticality and amount of services running through the umbilical, you'd imagine a back-up/emergency support cable would be included. To prevent over-extension of the numerous utility lines, as much as for supporting the weight of the bell, in the event the dedicated support cables are lost/cut. Amazing to think that wasn't (isn't?) the case.

[@markiobook8639]

You would expect, wouldn't you? Sadly idiots and bean counters run the world.

[@mortenfrosthansen84]

Oh man.. the readout of his diary. That must've been devastating for his widow to read. Wauv

[@PlaneReality]

My gosh... what is so complicated here? Send the rescue bell to retrieve the 2 men and surface... then go back later to retrieve the damaged bell and continue the work. WTF? The actions make absolutely no sense. Blessings all!

[@Black-Hebrew762]

I literally thought up the same thing. So the 2 trapped drivers could exit the bell, to as told cut the cords.. But if they could exit, WHY the fuck wouldnt they let the sick divers go up first while the fit divers either waited in the other Bell or just continued working on retrieving it.

[@richardoakley8800]

I did my padi rescue course with a commercial diver.. he said it was common to have a small bottle of 100 % oxygen attached to their helmet so if thinks went wrong at 200 meters they could get it over quickly.

[@waterlinestories]

Geez. Imagine planning for that. Its like having a cyanide pill ready. I wonder if anyone ever used it.

[@AllanO808]

Scary.

[@thelorddarkam3563]

This job is for nutjobs

[@dystopian..]

Very well narrated. Cheers 😊

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for watching

[@vissitorsteve]

This is just so heartbreaking...

[@amateurastronomer9463]

I'm only a recreational scuba diver. I started in the early 80's and even recreational diving was wild west. Most of the dive charts were outdated navy dive charts. All calculations done by hand. Most times things went well, but boy sometimes...

[@kevinmalone3210]

Sometimes, was it close calls where a diver came close to dying?

[@amateurastronomer9463]

@@kevinmalone3210 no it was more along the lines of getting the calculations wrong because the charts were slightly off. so all the planned decompression stops are off, and then you get bent, and have to spend an incredible amount of time in a decompression chamber. i never seen any one die on my dive trips, but seen some gnarly injuries. got a few myself, but i never got the bendz i still dive, though not as much any more. two trips a year if im lucky

[@jpdive8664]

Thanks for telling this story.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for watching

[@captainyossarian388]

I hope things have changed for the better since then with more emphasis on mandated regular inspections of heightened safety and rescue capability.

[@NitNgrit]

They never should have even attempted to mess with that umbilical

[@asc.445]

A Stena DSV also dragged a diver into a thruster, it's horrendous some of the avoidable incidents that happen in the industry.

[@waterlinestories]

Unbelievable. Ive spent time sailing and diving recreationally. I can see how easy it is for things to go wrong in the ocean. Its an industry that should be hypervigilant.

[@norml.hugh-mann]

As a decade long commercial Diver I can tell you that there is ALOT MORE dive operations that are well managed and safely done than UNSAFE ones. We have been hypervigilint about safety since I got wet in 2001.... I've been on several unsafe jobs though, the last job I worked as several companies...ad we generally have a 1 strike your out policy for negligent companies..at least I did

[@waterlinestories]

That's good to hear. I'm sure everyone wants safe. Safe is relative though and in the ocean things can go wrong.

[@asc.445]

@@waterlinestories That is good to hear, but the reason why these companies are so safe is because, in the past, people have died. Its never voluntary, its through financial penalties.

[@cosmiccolonel]

I believe that diver was the uncle of an apprentice that served his time with me back in the nineties, absolute tragedy…….

[@dannygjk]

There is still a major issue in saturation diving. They tend to develop a brain issue which affects memory. That suggests that the decomp protocol needs to be modified. 🤔

[@waterlinestories]

Ive seen lots of long term divers with little ticks.

[@markiobook8639]

@@waterlinestories yep. A lot of soldiers who do BUDS are never quite the same after a service- no matter the force.

[@josephdouglas6482]

I really appreciate the way you do these videos. I do believe that it's important to remember those that lost their lives. However, when I watch these, I'm more interested in the details of the incidents, what happened / why it happened, that sort of thing. Some of these videos go all the way back and tell you about these people's parents, details about when and where they were born, go through each one of their entire childhoods, it's just too much. I want to know about the things pertaining to the events, and you do a great job of staying on topic.

[@continuingtoprogress1315]

New subscriber! I have just found a new ❤ channel that is so well done.👍🏾

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. Welcome aboard

[@956brisbane]

Tragic but interesting. I'm glad in my industry we are able to make sure our offshore operations are safe.

[@qafmbr]

Crazy part was that the original cable "came loose" did no one inspect that?! MOst important part. I would inspect myself before getting in that bell.

[@judeh9835]

The clump weight most importantly is also a secondary recovery for the bell if the main wire ever fails which would have saved these guys' lives. The bell was also not attached to the crane but a davit

[@waterlinestories]

Ah thanks for the detail

[@Occasion77]

Quick question as I just saw this - when it came to the umbilical was there no way while they were figuring out how to rescue the individuals that they would deploy another or backup to at least keep them warm and with fresh air? Thanks!

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

The only comfort to me is they passed away from hypothermia, so chances are their bodies shut down as in sleep and they did not suffer.

[@waterlinestories]

A small comfort.

[@kylw3460]

WOWWW..Really incredible..and HAIR-RAISING..(Whew..!!..SMFH !!!)..R.I.P. Richard and Viktor..

[@waterlinestories]

RIP

[@nrw34260]

I was a Sat diver in the 70s in the NorthSea. Diving up to 630ft. Would spend a month in Sat. We were on £5k a month while in Sat. We never thought about any dangers then although I went through several near misses.

[@waterlinestories]

It's interesting to hear you say you never thought about the dangers. I guess this is a combination of focus and nothing to compare it to. If there aren't major instances to think about that's one thing but also I imagine those type of work requires a certain mental fortitude and if you spend your time thinking of what can go wrong it would be debilitating and you wouldn't be cut out for the work.

[@nrw34260]

@waterlinestories exactly that. If you thought about it you wouldn't do it. There was a time I was working at 600ft on a wellhead in the North Sea on the Glomar Grand Isle for Ocean Systems when I had my gas ct off. The surface said I has plenty of gas, I managed to get back to the bell over 20mtrs away and with a strength I never knew I had, maybe it was the adrenaline, I managed to push the bell weight out the way and get into the bell, I had breathed out and still had no gas, it still took another minute, although it felt longer, to get my helmet off. What had happened was my umbilical had gotten caught on a 1/4 turn gas valve and turned it off. The bellman had not noticed it. After a few minutes, he stuck my helmet helmet back on and kicked me back out. I finished the job. If he hadn't done that, I might have lost my nerve. After that they changed all the valves to needle valves so it couldn't happen again.

[@markiobook8639]

@@nrw34260 I understand- as a doldier we get used to handling grenades that would explode if but the pin was pulled or the guy behind us negligently discharged (one of the most common disciplinary offenses other than AWOL- (funnily enough they go AWOL to negligently discharge in another manner)

[@bluewaters3100]

I would be bored out of my mind being in SAT for a month.

[@nrw34260]

@@bluewaters3100 we were doing bell runs for up to 14 hours daily when weather permitted. The days not diving were spent counting the cash we were earning. 😁

[@Vok250]

Great video!

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

Very good technical info.

[@waterlinestories]

That’s what I’m aiming for

[@1978garfield]

Oof. Wow. I knew this was bad, I have watched other videos about it. This brings it home. I just don't have the words.

[@kaiapparent2653]

breaks my soul a bit, hearing this story

[@waterlinestories]

That sounds about right

[@tomtom3889]

Wild stuff. Any effects besides voice change being under that much pressure and different air mixture?

[@garyrhodes7089]

This period of north sea oil and gas exploration / extraction really was like the wild west divers Were well paid but the risks were off the chart and the procedures and check balances were not well observed and the interests of speed and profit were put forefront result divers paid with there lives

[@waterlinestories]

I couldn't agree more

[@daveroche6522]

Speed, profits and BONUSES! Rotten system, through and through.

[@ianstanley2360]

Worked on this Job after this incident.We recovered the SALM and took it to Norway,I was on the Stena Seaspread

[@waterlinestories]

Interesting. Were you topside or under water?

[@ianstanley2360]

Underwater,sat diver for Wharton Williams that changed to Rockwater for 20 yrs

[@233kosta]

Inginerd here. I can promise you that umbilical was NOT designed for any of these loads. What they SHOULD have done was lower them to the surface to await proper rescue, with their air and hot water supply still intact.

[@tomtom3889]

100%

[@TheTyree72]

Remember most people don't care about you. People only care about them and theirs. Always put your safety above any and everything. No authority, money anything should go over safety. Its a god given right to protect yourself. I was so upset hearing the company wouldn't pay because law wasn't enforced and owner ordered them back in the water after rescue. Be careful who you bend over backwards for. That includes your job

[@SYNTAX_ERA]

Sounds vaguely familiar. Like the diver who couldn't make it back to the bell and was rescued from the sea floor. You should cover that one. Its got a happier ending.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. In writing on it now

[@markiobook8639]

Happy endings are only for dodgy massage parlours.

[@roadmarch0364]

Great story telling. I wonder how long the divers had been dead, and what killed them? Was it the lack of oxygen, or hypothermia?

[@waterlinestories]

It was Hypothermia. If I understand correctly, the last divers to see them said they looked alive but barely. It took around 1- 1.5 hours for the crane to bring them up so they would have been dead for no more than 1.5hrs. If any one of all the things that went wrong, had actually gone right, then they probably would have survived. In one scenario which they decided against, they talked about taking the divers over to the other bell. They decided not to do that. In subsequent rescues they have done that successfully. I think these were still the early wild west days and they just didnt know if that would work.

[@fishead1967]

@@waterlinestories A

[@norml.hugh-mann]

I think IF it was in fact hypothermia it was because they got out to cut the clump weights...they might have lasted long enough in their life support bags w/sodasorb...but I bet it was either hypoxia or hypercapnia and liability was cheaper to claim it was hypothermia and not related to breathing gas

[@waterlinestories]

@@norml.hugh-mann The Autopsy was conducted by the sheriffs department in Aberdeen Scotland and declared Hypothermia.

[@waterlinestories]

Yeah that's probably a big factor. Three thing that was not clear for me. Nobody saw them come out. It was assumed they did because a clump weight was cut but that could also have been severed when they got dragged. I'm not entirely sure. But yeah it's all about extending there timeframes. Sit tight and conserve heat and gas.

[@adambazso9207]

Devastating and very sad. Just a horrible, avoidable tragedy.

[@waterlinestories]

That it was

[@martinaasandersen3775]

How do they eat and stuff if they are inside the bell for a month? What about bathroom? Or do they go into another larger pressure chamber between shifts or something?

[@pzuliomaccavellion9711]

Sad story, but a nicely made video!

[@waterlinestories]

Very sad. Thanks for saying so

[@m.streicher8286]

It's amazing that there was no internal method for jettisoning the ballast.

[@enigmacrk200]

A few questions why did they not cut the drop weights right after they lost the connection to the ship. Also why where they just not put the stranded men into the second dive bell and bring them up with rescue team and get the bell later. Also the trapped divers had diving equipment which could be used to extended there air?

[@shadowhenge7118]

There should always be a rescue team with full constantly checked gear available whenever saturation divers are in the water. Tge cost would be manageable if all companies who engage in this pay a share in maintaining the rescue vessels.

[@waterlinestories]

I know what you mean but I think its probably cost prohibitive. I can imagine the cost is in the $millions per annum. Then there are only a handful of sites engaged in an area. So you are probably splitting the cost between only a few companies. These guys are already trying to cut costs where they can. Im not saying its not worth it from my perspective, Im just saying they would never do it.

[@shadowhenge7118]

@@waterlinestories well the costs could probably be made actually profitable if the rescue ships were used for survey and exploratory drilling. Just kit ships in the fleet tgat dont do saturation diving with a bare minimum of gear to engage in rescue missions as a standby role.

[@waterlinestories]

Interesting. That's not a bad idea

[@markiobook8639]

Well, it could be written off if the rescue team were subcontractors. I'm sure you know, but to clarify for others the general rule is if you pay someone's fees/salary, you can declare that as a cost- or "deduction"- meaning you are not taxed on that amount- and tax bill goes down and earnings up. That's the way big power stations deal with all the myriad specialist jobs (turbine balancing, flu de calcifying, mercury clean-up etc)- because it wouldn't be cost effective to have it all in-house.

[@markiobook8639]

Agreed.

[@bobmilam9257]

I once held my breath for 2 minutes 33 seconds in my jacuzzi bathtub. I was really disorientated and came up in a bid for air to fast. I struck the faucet with the top of my head and was barely able to roll over the side before passing out. Moral of this story, I’m a pussy and these guys have balls of steel. RIP brothers

[@waterlinestories]

Damn lucky though. If you hadn't pulled yourself over the side...

[@markiobook8639]

Same as me mate.

[@stanley1554]

I feel so frustrated for these guys and their families. I wish I could meet the owner that ordered work to continue. I wish I could meet him just one time. That's all it would take, just once.

[@waterlinestories]

It's Even worse, he started in business for years to come.

[@stanley1554]

@@waterlinestories that's so sad... People like this are so awful!

[@joshua4960]

Great job

[@pomelo4086]

My gym is next to the harbour and where we keep all the ships, I see that red and white ship every single day not knowing what it was use for. After seeing this video I can’t look at it the same.

[@NoBetterBentley]

One small tip, change the title to Diver Break Down instead of Diver Breaks Down. Cause it kinda sounds like this video is going to be about a diver who loses his mind

[@markiobook8639]

Thank God for these brave men- our entire society would grind to a halt. I'm wondering- how much saturation diving is being replaced by ROV?

[@waterlinestories]

I think they start to use ROV's more in deeper diving but still use men for the shallower stuff thats more accessible. It will be down to a cost tradeoff.

[@billcallahan9303]

Navy trained diver. Vietnam. Mekong & Saigon rivers & elsewhere. Zero visibility. Body recovery. Scary stuff but you saturation divers have my respect. I'd never do it.

[@gaoasaurusg2159]

The ship's Captain is an agent of the company not a member of the crew. I was taught this by the old timers early in my career as a merchant marine and not a day past that it didn't prove true. The Captain's job is to get the job done ASAP. If it's done ahead of schedule the Captain gets a bonus. Every Captain I've worked under was a clock-watcher. Some more reckless than others as several times we steamed into the path of a hurricane instead of waiting as that would put us behind schedule and several times instead of putting into port for repairs, we worked 16hr days manning and repairing portable de-watering pumps we raised and lowered by hand into leaking holds on ships staffed by skeletal crews of three ABs and two oilers. It was a 4&8 watch, but we worked an extra two everyday so there would be two ABs on deck 12hrs a day ( to get many things you couldn't do on your own) making it 6&6 for 90 days. I learned to eat fast, fall asleep fast and shower fast as you only had 6 hours to do all that in before turning to...if nothing happened. 'All Hands' oft roused you to the deck and you best have your wits about you as I've seen more than my share of polliwogs hands and feet mangled by running lines/chain, fall injuries from vertical ladders and crush injuries during cargo operations. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I miss being at sea when at home. I get paid to travel the World! It's hard and dangerous work that many don't survive long enough to retire from, but life of adventure is never without it's hardships. To quote Robert Hunter ( song writer for the Grateful Dead ) " Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there."

[@thenoobsurvivor2001]

Tragic and fascinating. What stopped rescue workers from cutting the weights themselves? It seems like bringing the pressurized vessel to the surface would have simplified things. (I know nothing about diving, just curious.)

[@waterlinestories]

They would have been taking orders from topside management who would be coordinating. I think management would have been trying to get things done quickly and with the lowest loss of equipment which would have to be replaced at a cost. Im reading between the lines though. Also, no transponder means they might not have found it at the surface. The sea is a big place and the bell would not have floated high out the surface.

[@Velereonics]

Ok here's my design. Put a system into the bell which can render it aggressively buoyant, and add emergency chambers that maintain the 9x pressure or whatever they're at until a ship can come and find them and they can be moved into a larger, still pressurized chamber on the ship or land.

[@skorzalonsdale4426]

Do they have saturation “iron lungs” for the sake of a better word. Something like a large thick steel walled coffin that’s (relatively) mobile and can connect to the habitat and maintain saturation pressure while moving or airlifting a diver in an emergency? It’d be a clunky and slow way to evacuate but in some situations could be very useful Like what would happen in a semi emergency where a saturation diver had a medical condition that needed treatment within the next day 24 hours but needed a 4 day decompression cycle to “surface” safely? Like in this case if the divers had survived, how would their hypothermia have been treated given the need to maintain the increased pressure? I know a few of these guys and although the pay is generally good every single one of them is doing it for his family back home, I just can’t believe the bravery that that takes. Given the number of rigs near there I’m sure these huge oil companies could pay to have a rotating “saturated” doctor available at all times in Aberdeen. The injury might not be his specialty but I’m sure he could be talked through most things. One lad I know got offered a huge tax free, and life changing, payout for a few months work down in Angola. More money than I’d earn in a decade. Turned it down as he’d heard horror stories about some close calls when it came to safety down there. He wants to provide for his family, but he also wants to be around and be part of it!

[@waterlinestories]

Not that I’m aware of. If they needed they would put a doctor in the chamber with a patient and decompress them before getting to a hospital.

[@nickproctor6802]

This tragedy was meticulously researched by Sat diver Mike Smart. His book, "Into the `Lion's Mouth" is one of the most poignant reads for offshore divers. I was shaking with anger before I was hklf way through. The book has won prizes ans is a must read!

[@waterlinestories]

I found it when I was researching this. Excellent read. Thanks for sharing

[@judeh9835]

Yes, shows that he missed some stuff in the video, definitely a must read for any diver. Made me realize why we do things the way we do to this day

[@robmartin5382]

I’m not a diver so please forgive my ignorance but WHY couldn’t the trapped divers just jump into the other ships bell and stay onboard until they got all that shit repaired?? This would’ve worked, no?