In a tragic incident, two divers lost their lives to hypothermia due to a sudden equipment malfunction during a dive. The unfortunate event, known as the Wildrake diving accident, occurred in 1979 in the East Shetland Basin of the North Sea. Richard Arthur Walker, 32, and Victor Francis “Skip” Guiel Jr., 28, were commercial divers involved in a routine dive when their diving bell became detached from its main lift at a depth of 520 feet.
The divers were working on a Single Anchor Leg Mooring (SALM) system, which was part of an oil tanker facility. The incident sparked outrage and led to significant changes in the diving industry. Walker’s widow later revealed that Walker had expressed concerns about his safety in his diary, indicating a sense of foreboding about the dive.
Rescue efforts were made, with the diving vessel Stena Welder deploying divers to assist. However, challenges arose during the rescue operation, including issues with locating the diving bell due to lighting problems and lack of a working transponder. Despite efforts to guide the bell back to safety, mistakes were made in the lifting process, causing the bell to become wedged against the SALM base.
Tragically, when rescue divers finally reached Walker and Guiel, it was too late. The divers were found in critical condition and later declared dead due to hypothermia. An investigation revealed multiple safety violations and negligence, leading to legal actions against the diving contractors involved.
In a legal settlement, compensatory damages were awarded to the families of the deceased divers, though no amount of reparation could ease the pain of their loss. The incident highlighted the importance of prioritizing safety over speed in underwater operations, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.