title: Provisional report on diving-related fatalities in Australian waters in 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported as occurring in Australia in 2011 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific dive fatality reporting project.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and, where available, details from the post-mortem examination are provided. A chain of events analysis was conducted for each case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, there were 30 reported fatalities (10 more than in 2010). These included 15 snorkel/breath-hold divers, 14 scuba divers and one diver using surface-supplied breathing apparatus. Twenty-four victims were males. The mean age of snorkelling victims was 49.6 (range 23-75) years and compressed gas divers 42.2 (range 23-55) years. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have been the disabling injury in the deaths of at least seven snorkel divers and five scuba divers. Immersion pulmonary oedema was implicated in at least one death; and three fatalities resulted from attacks by marine animals. Two novices died while under instruction/supervision after separation from their instructor in poor visibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-existing medical conditions, separation and inadequate supervision and seafood collection in areas frequented by marine predators were once again features in several deaths in this series.
authors.affiliation: Divers Alert Network (DAN) Asia-Pacific, Ashburton, Victoria, Australia.|Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.|PO Box 384, Ashburton VIC 3147, Australia. johnl@danasiapacific.org.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lippmann
authors.affiliation: Statewide Forensic Medical Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Departments of Hyperbaric Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fock
authors.affiliation: Divers Alert Network (DAN) Asia-Pacific, Ashburton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.affiliation: Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia. Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001344:Autopsy; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000401:mortality; D062485:Breath Holding; D002423:Cause of Death; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004242:Diving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012754:Sharks; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breath-hold diving; Case reports; Deaths; Diving; Diving incidents; Scuba; Surface-supply breathing apparatus (SSBA)