Four Spanish Navy Divers in Intensive Care After Hyperbaric Chamber Accident

Eight Spanish Navy divers remain in hospital following an accident at a hyperbaric facility in Cartagena, with four now being treated in intensive care.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, 16 September, while personnel were carrying out an activity inside the hyperbaric complex at the Spanish Navy’s Diving Centre, located at the La Algameca Naval Station in Cartagena.

The Spanish Navy initially confirmed that eight members of the service had been injured and taken to hospital. At that stage, two were reported to have a reserved prognosis, five were described as having minor injuries and remaining under observation, while one had been discharged.

The situation has since developed.

According to updated information from regional health authorities, all eight affected divers are now in hospital.

Four are being treated in intensive care with a reserved prognosis. Three are at Santa Lucía Hospital in Cartagena, while a fourth has been admitted to Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia.

The remaining four are reportedly being kept under observation in the emergency department at Santa Lucía Hospital. 

Accident During Hyperbaric Activity

The accident happened while an activity was taking place within the Diving Centre’s hyperbaric complex.

Early reports have differed over precisely what occurred inside the facility. Regional broadcaster Onda Regional reported that personnel were conducting an exercise recreating underwater conditions inside the chamber and cited the possibility of exposure to an as-yet unidentified gas. However, this has not been confirmed by the Spanish Navy. 

The Navy has so far provided no official explanation for what caused the incident.

An investigation has been opened to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident, and the Navy said its immediate concern following the incident was the condition and recovery of the personnel involved. 

Reports suggesting a particular type of diving injury or gas-related incident should therefore be treated cautiously until investigators establish what happened.

One of Spain’s Principal Military Diving Facilities

The Centro de Buceo de la Armada is the Spanish Navy’s specialist centre for underwater operations and is a reference facility for diving and diving medicine within Spain’s Armed Forces.

Located at La Algameca since 1970, the centre employs around 90 personnel, the majority of whom are divers. 

Its facilities include fixed and portable hyperbaric chambers, diving vessels, surface-supplied and autonomous diving equipment, underwater tools, remotely operated vehicles and facilities for treating hyperbaric medical conditions. 

The centre’s responsibilities extend beyond diver training. Its personnel carry out underwater maintenance and repair work on naval vessels and participate in specialist operations including submarine rescue exercises, underwater intervention and the disposal of submerged explosive ordnance. 

Hyperbaric facilities are also an important part of diving medicine. Increased pressure can be used in the treatment of decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, among other recognised medical applications. The Spanish Ministry of Defence describes hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an established treatment for decompression illness. 

Investigation Continues

There has been no official finding on whether the accident resulted from equipment failure, the chamber environment, the breathing-gas supply, operating procedures or another factor.

The Scuba News will update this story if further information is released by the Spanish Navy or health authorities.