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2022 Caribbean diving disaster

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Death of a group of divers in 2022

The Caribbean diving disaster was an incident in February 2022 in which a group of five divers working for the Paria Fuel Trading Company were sucked into a pipeline from a hyperbaric chamber. One diver managed to crawl to safety, but the other four were left to die, with no attempt being made to rescue them.

An investigation by the government of Trinidad and Tobago concluded that the deaths of the divers were due to "gross ... and consequently criminal" negligence. and made recommendations that charges be laid for corporate manslaughter.

Events

On 25 February 2022, at around 3pm, five divers became trapped in a Paria Fuel Trading Company oil pipeline near Pointe-à-Pierre while making repairs to the pipe. Unbeknownst to the divers, differential pressure had been created when the pipe was cleared of oil nearly a month earlier. While four of the divers were removing an inflatable plug, they got sucked into a vortex pulling them into the oil pipe. Despite efforts by the divers, only one of them was able to escape after crawling his way down the pipe for around three hours.

A GoPro camera was recovered from one of the deceased divers. Audio recording from the camera shows that all five men were alive after being sucked into the oil pipe, and in the audio they are heard praying and comforting each other.

The divers who died were named as Kazim Ali Jr, Yusuf Henry, Fyzal Kurban, and Rishi Nagassar, with the sole survivor being Christopher Boodram.

Investigation

Paria admitted they had no rescue plan, citing that they had 'no legal responsibility to rescue the men'. Further external attempts to save the men were reportedly blocked by Paria with arguments being made that the divers could not be rescued safely. In November 2023, the Commission of Enquiry found that "Paria's negligence could be characterised as gross negligence and consequently criminal". They recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions "consider charging Paria with what is commonly known as Corporate Manslaughter."

References

  1. ^ "Caribbean diving disaster that tragically had lone survivor is 'physically uncomfortable to listen to'". LADbible. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  2. Weinman, Steve (2024-01-24). "Diver pipeline deaths blamed on oil company's 'criminal negligence'". divernet.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  3. De Silva, Radhica. "Paria survivor says he is still unable to work". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  4. Douglas, Sean (2022-12-28). "Seeking the truth about the Paria diving tragedy - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  5. ^ "Paria Fuel tragedy survivor plagued by nightmares, flashbacks'I am scarred for life' - CNC3". 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  6. "Paria diving tragedy: A timeline of events". Loop News. February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  7. Ramdass, Anna (2022-03-22). "Paria pipeline diver was wearing GoPro camera: Where is it?". Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  8. ^ "Paria's lawyer: Company had no legal responsibility to rescue LMCS divers". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. January 13, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  9. "The Paria Recommendations - Full Report". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 19 January 2024.


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