German diver in decompression chamber after deep dive in Robredo ops

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED 5:05 PM) German technical diver Danny Brumbach's condition was described by Science Secretary Mario Montejo as in "very positive status"  hours after he was brought to a decompression chamber on experiencing the apparent "bends" while helping retrieve the bodies of two pilots from the plane that crashed in Masbate Sea with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

His functions seemed "normal," according to Montejo, and Brumbach can speak and move his hand, but "he is still being closely monitored" at the chamber inside the BRP Edsa of the Philippine Coast Guard. The BRP Edsa is anchored near where search teams earlier retrieved the body of Robredo, four days after a Piper Seneca plane bearing him, his aide Jun Abrazado and two pilots plunged into the sea while attempting an emergency landing at Masbate airport.

Abrazado was pulled out of the water by a local fisherman within minutes of the crash.

Diving operations at Masbate Sea resumed shortly past 3 pm Tuesday after being halted by an emergency involving Brumbach, whom Montejo later identified as a DOST consultant.

Brumbach was pulled out from the site on experiencing difficulty as he reached a depth of 60.5 meters. 

Initial reports said Brumbach succumbed to what is known as "decompression sickness." He fell unconscious amid search operations for the two missing pilots, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Kshitz Chand, but one radio report said he was seen  to be conscious when he was transferred to the decompression chamber, though his mouth was foaming.

According to the website Divers Alert Network, "decompression sickness" or "the bends" is an illness that results from "inadequate  decompression following exposure to increased pressure" It usually happens when a person surfaces after a dive.

Brumbach was brought to the decompression chamber at the Coast Guard’s BRP EDSA, after he was pulled out from the site on experiencing difficulty as he reached a depth of 60.5 meters.

Initial reports said Brumbach succumbed to what is known as "decompression sickness." He fell unconscious amid search operations for the two missing pilots, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Kshitz Chand, but one radio report said he was seen to be conscious when he was transferred to the decompression chamber, though his mouth was foaming.

Technical divers early Tuesday morning recovered the body of Robredo, but pilot Bahinting and his copilot remained pinned down in the cockpit in the main part of the plane nestled on the seabed.  The Piper Seneca plane plunged into the sea while trying an emergency landing on Masbate airport Saturday afternoon, on its way to Naga from Cebu.

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