@article{ref1,
title="Snorkelling and breath-hold diving fatalities in New Zealand, 2007 to 2016",
journal="Diving and hyperbaric medicine",
year="2021",
author="Lippmann, John and Lawrence, Chris and Davis, Michael",
volume="51",
number="1",
pages="25-33",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: New Zealand's (NZ) long coastline offers a diverse underwater environment with abundant opportunities for harvesting seafood and for recreation. Fatalities from snorkelling/breath-hold diving have been reported from the 1960s through to 2006. Those from 2007 to 2016 are reported here. <br><br>METHODS: The National Coronial Information System, the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation diving fatality database, and the Water Safety NZ &quot;Drownbase&quot; were searched and additional coronial data provided by the NZ Ministry of Justice. An anonymised database was created and analysed for multiple factors. A chain of events analysis was performed for each case. <br><br>RESULTS: There were 38 snorkelling or breath-hold-related deaths in NZ, 33 men and five women. Twenty-nine were breath-hold divers involved in gathering seafood, and six 'surface snorkellers', predominantly sightseeing. Two-thirds were diving alone and/or were not being observed by anyone out of the water. Twenty-eight victims were classified as overweight or obese and 19/38 were Maori. Pre-existing health factors that may have or definitely contributed to the fatality were present in 30 cases. The most common of these were cardiac (18/38). Two divers had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, one each epilepsy and asthma whilst cannabis and/or alcohol were possible factors in seven deaths. Five (possibly six) deaths resulted from apnoeic hypoxia. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Overall, death from snorkelling/breath-hold diving was an uncommon event (38 in 10 years). Poor judgement was a common feature. Middle-aged Maori men with pre-existing disease feature strongly. This suggests an on-going need for appropriate water safety education within and beyond the Maori community.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1833-3516",
doi="10.28920/dhm51.1.25-33",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.28920/dhm51.1.25-33"
}