Freediver died in Davos attempting record under ice

[Duracell]

Just read this sad news on the Dutch news site:

DAVOS - In Switzerland, a 42 old diver died after he performed the world record for diving without oxygen under the ice.

The man was no longer up to breathe. Another diver, but with an oxygen tank, found him unconscious under the ice. The man was brought to the surface, but died Sunday in a hospital.

The police in Davos has announced this. The current world record is held by the German Nik Linder. He swam 108 meters under the ice.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[glennv]

Read it 2 hours ago and spent the same amount trying to find out who died. I have a few Swiss freediving friends so am a bit worried.

Anyone has some more info about the identity ?

 

[glennv]

PLease don't let it be Peter Colat . Pleaseeeeeeee

I see this in the record attempts:
Guinness world record attempt
Sun,
27.02.2011, 11:00 h
Peter Colate - diving under ice


Event Locality:
Davosersee
7260 Davos Dorf

Information:
Schweizer Unterwasser-Sport-Verband SUSV
Bleikiwäg 1
8197 Rafz
Tel.: +41 76 427 64 25
Home
pcolat@yahoo.de

 

[trux]

Oh ***** it was Peter Colat. My sincere condolences to all friends and relatives!

Il meurt lors d'une tentative de record de plongée en apnée - Monde - 7s7

 

[trux]

Finally, I am not sure if it was him - the text is not quite clear. Perhaps it was someone else from the team

 

[cebaztian]

Mann stirbt bei Weltrekordversuch im Apnoe-Tauchen - News Panorama: Vermischtes - tagesanzeiger.ch

Annelie Pompe is planning to swim 111 meter under ice in 7 days.

I am grateful for all details on this unfortunate death.

Sebastian
Freediving - articles, courses, news, stories, equipment, inspiration

 

[glennv]

No I was in denial for a few moments, but it is appearing now on google ......

Fare well my friend. Will never forget when we met.
Glenn Venghaus Freediving Photo Gallery :: Closing :: 2

 

[fcallagy]

So sorry to hear this Condolences to his family and friends.

 

[ericvrp]

It does not really matter who it is, it is bad news anyway. :-( The news says it is a 42 year old german and Peter Colat is 39 and swiss.

 

[Don Paul]

RIP, prayers to relatives and close friends. Sad.

Sincerely, Don Paul

 

[trux]

So it is not Peter:

Mann stirbt bei Weltrekordversuch im Apnoe-Tauchen - News Panorama: Vermischtes - bazonline.ch

Davos.- Bei dem Mann, der am Samstag bei einem Trainingstauchgang unter ungeklärten Umständen verunfallt war, handelte es sich laut der Kantonspolizei Graubünden nicht um jenen Sportler, welcher am Sonntag den Weltrekord im Strecken-Freitauchen unter Eis hatte angreifen wollen. Der Verunfallte sei einer der Begleiter des Rekordtauchers gewesen, bestätigte Moritz Caderas von der Kantonspolizei Graubünden.

 

[glennv]

Now i feel even worse. I am happy it is not Peter as we were in mourning here, but am sad another poor sole has died.

I am realy confused. Several sources say it is Peter (French, Italian, German), but in his blog on the Swiss site people are talking to him in sadness about what happend. So maybe the news sources are wrong and it someone who dived with them.

 

[trux]

Yes, I think the confusion came from diverse sources naming Peter, but in fact none of them told it was him who died. It was just a misinterprettion of the text. The article in German I quoted above tells it quite clearly it was not Peter.

The man failed to exit at the first hole (just 50m), and was rescued in only 2:45 - I do not think that in normal conditions it would have to result in a fatal accident, so perhaps his health, and/or the extreme conditions played a role. Well, let's avoid speculating for now, and let's wait for the results of the investigation.

The accident reminds me the almost identical accident exactly a year ago (February 28th 2010) in a frozen lake at Orcières in the French Alps. Without blaming anyone (from what I've read about this accident, there was a lot of safety in place, and the rescue was very fast), please keep on mind that freediving at altitude and under ice is a very risky activity. If you decide doing it, never underestimate the risk, and make everything possible for the safety!

 

[glennv]

Justgot an email from Peter and he is definately alive. It was a collegue of him.
Nothing worse then bad reporting. The whole internet is full with messages of his death.

All the best for the family and friend of the poor victim. I am sure we will get more details soon.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[rbsub]

Here is a link with an interview with Peter:
«Mein Kollege hat sich überschätzt» - News Zürich: Unterland - tagesanzeiger.ch

 

[CEngelbrecht]

Does anyone know his name? Not that it has to be disclosed right now, but...

 

[cal]

The relatives wished his name not to be revealed.

Michi

 

[CEngelbrecht]

Fair enough

 

[island_sands]

Terrible news. That's two freedivers in one weekend. Condolences from Dubai freedivers.

 

[cebaztian]

Does any one know details of what went wrong.
It would be intresting to know since we are staging a similar attempt in Sweden on Sunday.
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Sebastian