Lobster divers dying in Honduras, struck with paralysis and decompression illness

[Judi Lynn]

Lobster divers dying in Honduras, struck with paralysis and decompression illness
Many take the risk in the poverty-stricken area because jobs are scarce
BY Rheana Murray
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, November 19 2011, 12:27 AM


The lobster from Honduras’ Miskito Coast is to die for - literally.

Seafood fishermen from the country’s poverty stricken Caribbean coast are dropping dead from decompression sickness known as “the bends” caused by diving too-deep without the proper equipment, all in pursuit of the luxury crustacean they call "red gold," MSNBC.com reported.

"It's incredibly dangerous, what they are doing," diving safety expert Eric Douglas told the network. "They are diving so far beyond anything that we would consider to be within acceptable limits.

"They are poorly trained. They are poorly equipped. They have none of the basic things that divers today would consider mandatory equipment - pressure gauges, alternate air sources, even a buoyancy control vest to help them float underwater without effort," he news site.

More:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lobster-divers-dying-honduras-struck-paralysis-decompression-illness-article-1.980068