Two divers lost their lives due to hypothermia when the life-supporting equipment they relied on malfunctioned dramatically.
Richard Arthur Walker, aged 32, and Victor Francis “Skip” Guiel Jr., aged 28, met tragic ends during a routine dive in the East Shetland Basin of the North Sea in 1979. The Wildrake diving accident occurred when the diving bell, detached from its main lift at a depth of 520 feet, left the divers stranded. They were working on a system known as Single Anchor Leg Mooring (SALM), which was designed as a facility for oil tankers.
Walker’s wife, Jeanne Walker, revealed a chilling entry from his diary stating his uncertainty about surviving the expedition. The incident was triggered when a faulty buoy, dislodged by the British National Oil Corporation (BNOC), damaged part of the structure, leading to the fatal accident. Infabco was subsequently contracted for diving services to rectify the situation and reinstall the SALM.
The fatal mistake occurred when the divers, having acclimatized to the pressure of the deep sea, realized their diving bell had become detached. The bell was only held in place by the umbilical cord supplying heat to their suits, power, communication, and life-sustaining gas.
Rescue efforts were initiated by the diving vessel Stena Welder, with rescue divers Phil Kasey-Smith and Eddy Frank attempting to assist. Unfortunately, due to lighting issues and technical difficulties, locating the stranded bell took considerable time.
During the rescue attempt, the crane hook was too long to reach the bell, leading to delays and further complications. Tragically, the bell got stuck against the SALM base during the lifting process, resulting in a failed rescue attempt.
Ultimately, when the divers were retrieved from the Wildrake saturation system, they were pronounced dead from hypothermia. Investigations revealed multiple safety violations and negligence, leading to legal actions and indictments against the diving contractor.
In a gesture of compensation, the United States District Court awarded damages to the families of the deceased divers. It was highlighted that the contractors prioritized speed over safety, and critical errors during the rescue operation potentially cost the lives of Walker and Guiel.