jb accident

[dweyant]

Can anyone give a better description of the area of JB this happened in?

It sounds like it was just after the first breakdown? One of the small side passeges to the left (going in), I assume?

Thanks,

-Dan

This is merely speculation.

The writeup makes me assume it was the area high and to the left that we call Eddy's Tunnel of Terror.

http://cavediver.net/phpbb2/viewtopi...=3994&start=30

Please don't confuse the upbeat, comical tone of last year's post with the seriousness of the fact that a diver died this week. I only refer to that post as a description of that section of cave.

[aw]

No prob, Mike.

I really enjoyed that dive he and I did, from planning, drills, to the dive. Even when I had a mishap or two, an extra hand was literally right there. I woulda done it again.

I know I've done things from time to time I probably shouldn't. I'm just sorry this mess has happened.

[JeffB]

I THINK, based on the article in that Panama City paper, it's the area that I labeled the "squirrely passage" in this writeup of a dive I did in that passage some years ago: http://mail.ais.fsu.edu/kave/JB . It is a tight passageway wearing backmount. I shudder at the thought of a non-cave trained diver negotiating this passageway (if, indeed that's what happened).

-- Jeff

[aw]

Panic led to diver’s death
By David Angier

Panama City News Herald
March 7, 2007

Harry Milliser took off gear, including his oxygen tank

MARIANNA

A Jackson County man died after abandoning his dive gear and trying to swim out of a submerged cave.

Harry Milliser, 48, of Marianna, drowned Monday evening when he was trapped in the Jackson Blue spring of Blue Springs Recreation Area in Jackson County.

Edd Sorenson, owner of Cave Adventurers in Marianna and an experienced cave diver, said Tuesday he thought he was going to be able to rescue Milliser, but instead found evidence of a fatal panic. Sorenson arrived at the springs 12 minutes after the 9-1-1 call went out. He was in the water three minutes later and used a motorized scooter to reach Milliser as quickly as possible.

Sorenson said he was traveling through the crystal clear water of the main passage when he encountered a thick cloud of silt about 700 feet in. He said he took a side passage to the left and followed the silt to Milliser’s body, which was 70 feet down the side passage and 96 feet underwater.

Sorenson said Milliser had taken off his diving gear, including his tank, which still had oxygen.

He said Jackson Blue is a popular destination for cave divers. He said the walls are white limestone with unique formations. The water is clear with unlimited visibility and the main passage clearly is marked with a gold-colored guideline.

“Of course, the allure of cave diving is what’s around the next corner,” Sorenson said. “It’s usually a very safe cave dive.”

He said “99.9 percent” of fatal accidents in cave diving happen when a diver exceeds his training or capabilities.

“I would think that’s what happened here,” Sorenson said.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Maj. John Dennis said Milliser was not a certified cave diver. Milliser was certified to dive in open water and had 20 years of experience in that sport. His partner on this trip, Gordon Smith, 58, had a basic cave-diving certification.

Smith told investigators Milliser got stuck in a narrow part of the side passage they had taken. Smith went to the surface to alert the authorities and a 9-1-1 call was placed.

Dennis said there have been a number of accidents in Blue Springs over the years, but he did not know a specific amount. The last fatality in the spring The News Herald reported was in 1999. Dennis said he thought there was another, more recent drowning.

He said Smith and Milliser had been diving in Blue Springs before.

“Basically, they went into the cave. Mr. Milliser became trapped in a small opening and drowned attempting to free himself,” Dennis said.

[MrSpooley]

Edit:

OK guys, remember rule #6. "No opinions about another cave diver".

You can think what you want, but don't put it into print.

FW
head moderator

[MK7]

Is it not obvious he oxtoxed? I mean, he was breathing oxygen at 96'.

Stupid newspaper reporter. You'd think he could get a diver to read over his story beforehand and point out obvious errors.

MK7

[Howard]

Dennis said he thought there was another, more recent drowning.

there was. I think it was 2002. Jonathon Gol

[kgault]

Is it not obvious he oxtoxed? I mean, he was breathing oxygen at 96'.

Stupid newspaper reporter. You'd think he could get a diver to read over his story beforehand and point out obvious errors.

MK7

To make it even worse, the reporter is a certified diver ;(

Keith

[FW]

Is it not obvious he oxtoxed? I mean, he was breathing oxygen at 96'.

Stupid newspaper reporter. You'd think he could get a diver to read over his story beforehand and point out obvious errors.

MK7

He said the tank "still had oxygen", he didn't say that it was 100% Oxygen