Two divers tragically succumbed to hypothermia after a critical malfunction in their life-support equipment resulted in a catastrophic incident.
The unfortunate demise of Richard Arthur Walker, aged 32, and Victor Francis “Skip” Guiel Jr., aged 28, sparked controversy and led to significant changes in the diving industry. The Wildrake diving accident occurred in 1979, claiming the lives of the two divers during a routine operation in the East Shetland Basin of the North Sea. The incident unfolded when the diving bell became detached from its primary lift at a depth of 520 feet, leaving the divers stranded. They were working on a Single Anchor Leg Mooring (SALM) system intended to support oil tankers, as documented in The Last Dive.
In a chilling revelation, Walker’s widow, Jeanne Walker, shared excerpts from her late husband’s diary during a fatal accident inquiry, indicating his apprehension about survival. The tragedy was exacerbated by structural damage caused when the British National Oil Corporation (BNOC) dislodged a faulty buoy, affecting the riser. Following this incident, Infabco was contracted by BNOC for diving services from the drill rig, leading to the reinstallation of the SALM. The MS Wildrake, a diving support vessel owned by Anders Wilhelmsen AS, featured a saturation diving system designed to facilitate safe adjustments to water pressure during dives.
The critical error occurred when the divers, having acclimatized to the deep sea pressure, discovered that their diving bell had detached from the lift mechanism. Their only connection to safety was through the umbilical cord providing essential supplies and communication.
The Stena Welder diving vessel intervened, deploying rescue divers to assist. Despite challenges with lighting and identification due to technical issues, the rescue operation eventually located the stranded bell on the seabed after an hour.
Efforts to secure the bell were met with unforeseen obstacles, leading to a series of mistakes in the rescue process. Tragically, the divers’ frantic attempts to free themselves proved futile, resulting in their tragic demise due to hypothermia upon recovery.
The subsequent investigation by the Department of Energy revealed multiple safety violations and negligence, prompting legal actions and indictments against the involved parties. In a bid for justice, compensation was awarded to the families of the deceased divers, though it could never outweigh their loss.
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