Dead Mans Handshake
Incident Date
1907-07-05
Incident Description
A famous incident during the world record breaking dives of 1978 in Keld Head. A visiting German diver passed a low bedding and cross rift area some 900m from the entrance using large back-mounted cylinders. The line subsequently was pulled a considerable distance into an impassable bedding. On his return he had trouble relocating the correct exit route even with another diver on theoutside of the constriction to assist. He eventually found his way back.
Lessons Learned
This specific incident was solved by the judicial use of lead drop weights to hold the line in place. Similar incidents can be avoided using advanced line management techniques.
| Factors |
|
| Line Management |
Major |
| Gas Management |
Negligible |
| Equipment Management |
Minor |
| Equipment Failure |
Negligible |
| Training |
Minor |
| Medical |
Negligible |
| Planning |
Negligible |
| Procedural Error |
Negligible |
| Cave Environment |
Negligible |
| Weather |
Negligible |
| Other Factor |
Unknown |
