A diver exploring the seas off the south coast of the Isle of Wight was airlifted to hospital yesterday afternoon (Saturday) suffering from suspected decompression sickness – the bends.
Coastguard Rescue 175 from Lee-on-Solent was called into action at around 15:30 after Solent Coastguard received reports of an unwell diver several miles off the coast of Ventnor.
The search and rescue asset was quickly on scene with the diving vessel – based out of Lymington – and winched the female casualty on board.
Rescue 175 then flew to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, where Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team assisted in the transfer of the woman.
Decompression sickness arises from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurisation and is most commonly related to problems arising from underwater diving decompression during ascent.
On this occasion, the diver made a rapid ascent from 55 metres.
