A Breath of Fresh Air: Local captain rescues diver in distress

Captain Josh Livingston of the Dread Knot had just arrived at a dive spot with a group of clients when he heard a diver in distress call over the radio. It was June 1, the first day Red Snapper was legal to catch in federal waters, and Livingston and his crew were bent on making a world record for pole-spearing a snapper.

“We were out free diving and we pulled up on a spot and I could see a dive boat 1,000 feet away with their dive flag out,” Livingston said. “Not long after I noticed them, there was a distress call on the radio for a diver suffering decompression sickness symptoms. We were 20 miles offshore when that happened.”

Livingston explained that decompression sickness can happen when a diver ascends too quickly from deep water and can be a serious, even deadly phenomenon. The quickest way to address the illness, he said, is to have the patient inhale 100-percent oxygen.

“Decompression sickness comprises of a couple possible ailments,” he said. “ Air embolism is when air is expanding in your lungs too rapidly and can burst the alveoli in your lungs and can also burst into your blood stream as bubbles. The other form is getting the 'bends.' When a diver ascends too rapidly, the nitrogen in your blood stream can release to block blood flow to your organs, it is very detrimental to your health.”

As a certified Emergency First Responder as well as Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Divemaster, Livingston wasted no time in responding to the call.

“I called them on the radio and asked if they had emergency oxygen to administer, and they didn’t so I went over there,” he said. “The only immediate treatment is oxygen. You are not required to carry it on your boat, but it gives the best chance of survival. I always carry it because I want to make sure I can be as prepared as possible.”

 Thankfully, Livingston was able to make it to the distressed diver and bring relief before the sickness had set in. He was then able to take the diver to the Destin Coast Guard Station to an awaiting ambulance.

“I offered to take him on my boat because it’s a lot faster,” Livingston said of his Aluminum-chambered boat that was designed for harbor patrol and Coast Guard usage. “I brought him back to the Coast Guard station and they had an ambulance ready."

As for his own charter trip, Livingston had to cancel and refund his clients, but said he wouldn’t change a thing when someone else’s life is on the line.

“I apologized to the people on my boat, but they understood and were happy to help,” he said.

The diver made a full recovery, and even called Livingston the next day to thank him for his quick rescue.

“We were just happy we were in the right place at the right time,” said Livingston. “And we were blessed with great fishing in the days following.”