Med student, 24, faints during 'practice dive' in Similan islands, evacuated by helicopter to Phuket



PHUKET: A 24-year-old Thai medical student is being monitored closely in a Hyperbaric Chamber at Vachira Phuket Hospital after he fainted during a 13-metre dive before being evacuated to Phuket via helicoptor from the Similan islands

Mr Tosawat, 24, a medical student at Rangsit University was doing a "practice dive" at about 13 metres depth, under the watch of an unnamed dive instructor early this afternoon in the area of Ko Miang's island number 7, located in the south of the Similan Islands National Park, some 85 kilometres northwest of Phuket.

While diving Mr Tosawat gave signal to his instructor that his head was spinning and was subsequently brought to surface, where Mr Tosawat was said to have lost consciousness.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/med-student-24-faints-during-practice-dive-in-similan-islands-evacuated-by-helicopter-to-phuket-55726.php

-- Phuket News 2016-01-10

Check the fill - could be contaminated - comp. intake too near an engine exhaust ?

Check the fill - could be contaminated - comp. intake too near an engine exhaust ?

Unlikely, that would affect more people and it would have happened before.

Nitrogen narc, hyperventilation? Odd, never heard of such a problem at that depth.

Decompression sickness ??

Maybe the tank had corrosion inside? Not properly inspected?

anxiety/ panic attack also possible. perhaps still still stress from not getting accepted at mahidol or chula and ended up at rangsit, the pay for play school.

Never knew that medical students have the time to take vacation during training?

What's a practice dive vs a real dive? So it doesn't count as a dive?