“STAGING A DIVER”

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1936, Page 8

“STAGING A DIVER”

FOR PARALYSIS

DARWIN, June 1. Roy Williams, aged about. 24, a pearlshell’ diver, who became paralysed while diving for pearlshell in deep water on Bathurst Island pearling grounds last week, is undergoing treatment. He spent Saturday and to-day suspended in diving dress in Darwin Harbour, where he is being “staged” under the supervision of Dr. W. B. Kirkland.

Williams was working on one of J. B. Carpenter and Sons’ pearling ketches. He comes from Thursday Island. On Thursday morning Williams became paralysed while on the pearling grounds. His boat brought him into Darwin, the trip taking two days. When he arrived on Saturday morning. Dr. Kirkland ordered Wil-, Hams to be “staged” in diving dress in the harbour at varying depths to 15 fathoms (90 feet). All day long the lugger from which Williams was suspended was anchored in the channel of the harbour. On Saturday night he was brought from the water and rested on the lugger, but this morning was again put down. He is resting on the boat to-night, and will be suspended in the water again to-morrow. A slight improvement in his condition his been observed.

This treatment is the only one avail able, since Darwin has no decompres sion chamber in which divers’ paralysis is treated.

All the pearling ketches operating on the Bathurst Island grounds are over deep water. The divers are descending to depths of 25 fathoms. They are able to work only a few hours a day. The rest of the daylight is used to “stage” them on the descent and ascent to prevent paralysis.