where is Herbert?

[Mullins]

is safe diving not more important than individual bystanders' perceived sensibilities?

You what now?? Please try to make some sense. I'm saying it's up to Herbert, not me. I'm as interested as anybody else, I'm just not keen on hounding a guy who has had a bad accident. And no, the possible safety benefits for others don't trump his right to privacy. Most freedivers withhold at least some information about their training, techniques etc. Should they all fess up? After all, the life of a freediver is worth more than a gold medal... no?

Trux, remember it was Herbert's father who asked for a bit of privacy early on.

 

[monkeyhatfork]

fair enough. but science in this sport is very week. I'm guessing what herbert has gone thru could be a whole new physical issue for those at those depths but whatever would be learned from it which may take a while to do would only effect 1 or 2 people in the world that might ever make an attempt like that. on the other hand our only answer for real common occurrences that concern everyone like shallow water blackout is "dive with a buddy cause u might black out" if we can't do better than that with something common at every level of the sport it seems hard to believe much of value will come out of this one likely very complicated incident . Info is nice to have and debate but I'm going diving in a few minutes and i am in no way concerned that anything that herbert went thru will apply to me whatsoever. just my opinion i don't mean any offense to anyone. Herbert is an amazing diver best wishes on a full recovery

 

[Mullins]

Yep, I doubt anybody is going to follow him to 240m any time soon. I suspect this is largely about curiosity rather than safety.

 

[ThomasB]

Yep, I doubt anybody is going to follow him to 240m any time soon. I suspect this is largely about curiosity rather than safety.

You are probably right on this Mr Mullins, yet I find it hard not to be somehow disappointed at it. If this was a private experience rather than a sponsored effort I would be inclined to agree with you. But it was not. It was a well anticipated event where Herbert and the sponsors gave pretty much every possible details before the attempt and I'm sure they would have provided every available info if the attempt was successfully. Unfortunately it wasn't so and we are witnessing a change of attitude which I believe has nothing to do with Herbert right to privacy. If he wanted privacy he should not have organized a public and sponsored event at first. Now that things went wrong sponsor have chosen not to provide any details which is not fair at all: I am entitled to know the big company name if the record is a success but I'm not entitled To know the consequence and details if it is a disaster? Are we Sure that is Herbert interest and not big x conpany's?

 

[Mullins]

Oh, I'm disappointed too. But to talk about their obligation, or our 'entitlement' to this information is well clear of the mark in my view. We're not 'entitled' to anything. It's entirely up to the athlete/crew/organiser (whoever takes the media liaison role) what they will publicise. Like I said, Herbert is not public property. He and his crew, sponsor etc are within their rights to choose which aspects of the event they publicise. Withholding information may well make for bad press and a grumpy/disappointed public, but that's their decision.

 

[kavachi]

thanks all for your thoughts!

the freedom of freediving, and by extension the privacy of freedivers to do what we do, I do NOT take for granted. it is a universe away from scuba with its [justified] plethora of rules and regulations, equipment and time limits, and scrutiny when it comes to safe diving. but one has to acknowledge there are many accidents in freediving the physiology of which are very poorly understood in hyperbaric medicine.

as a freediver with three daughters who have a growing interest in breath hold diving, it is a challenge to indulge them in the freedom whilst maintaining a level of safety becoming of a parent. giving them a 'big picture' of the physiological effects of breath hold diving [beyond their scuba stress+rescue theory] really helps to this end.

granted, whatever happened on Herbert's record dive is in all probability not something they, or anyone else, will ever encounter, but acquiring an understanding of the contributing factors and effects [which is where we are still very much in the dark with the NoLimits dives] really contributes to an understanding of what constitutes safe diving.

and of course there is some simple curiosity involved in my initial query about what happened with the record attempt - surely i'm not the only one who has contemplated how wild it would be to kick out the stops and go to 800 feet. certainly i am not a candidate to try this, but Herbert is, and he did it. what a fantastic effort. he is an inspiration. we're hanging out to hear he has made a full recovery!!!

 

[efattah]

Well, we sponsored Herbert with the five dive computers for the event, and I ran Herbert's planned profile through our freediving deco algorithm (which recommended first stop at -22m). As a sponsor, we still have no more information than anyone else and some of the dive computers were supposed to be returned after the event... we still wait for them.

I actually think Herbert would like to share his story (here on DB, if not with major media). But I think it is the sponsors which are preventing the story from being publicized (like on that documentary when the doctor was interrupted/removed when he tried to explain the details).

 

[kavachi]

thanks Eric

 

[DivingDane]

more likely than not the information from the dive will be released once it is completely understood. it is reasonable to assume that much research will need to be done before understanding exactly what happened, prematurely releasing information without entirely understanding it would be more dangerous than waiting until they have the answers to why and how.

i dont see why people are taking such a forceful stand on this, its not a conspiracy, its simply an incredibly who has had hard working and talented diver who has had a bad accident. it may also be quite possible that he is contractually bound by his sponsors from saying anything before the information has been adequately processed.

give them man a break we have already thanks to media seen the video of the final moments of the dive, we kn ow Herbert is OK and that his family has asked to give them some privacy to work through the challenges.

Herbert and his family need our support not our badgering.

DD

 

[sebastien murat]

its not like everyone and they're mom is out attempting no-limits records while people maybe interested in what happened this situation has zero application to 99% of free divers. At that level of uncharted physiological territory its entirely possible they could still not have a 100% understanding of the whys and hows yet its not like u have a series of cases to study and compare against either

Well put. I would add: best not to project one's expectations onto the world, as the world is liable to disappoint one's self-centered view.

 

[kavachi]

thanks Seb for your thoughts. and very best wishes with your own no-limits work. hope to see you in Marovo in the not too distant future.

 

[sebastien murat]

In the throws of planning the next step of the the No-Limits project. After my unmatchable experiences in PNG, the Solomons is on my really short list. I was talking to the people on Uepi some time ago and may revisit them on the possibility. Any suggestions, warmly welcomed.

 

[sebastien murat]

As a sponsor, we still have no more information than anyone else and some of the dive computers were supposed to be returned after the event... we still wait for them.

If you lend me a couple for the next phase of my project, I'll share with you the data AND promptly give you back the units!

 

[Vedrana]

....... but rather how Herb is doing these days, because we are worried, and would like to hear good news. And even if there are only bad news to announce, we would like to know them too, to be able to express our support or to try to help if that's possible.

Until we hear news from Herbert,
we will pray for his quick recovery !!!!

 

[AndrewLab]

Red Bulletin- Beyond the possible

Looks like Herbert suffered a serious brain damage :/

 

[kevtron]

It does sound pretty bad. I wonder how he feels about No Limits diving at this point.

I hope he'll be able to recover further.

 

[vali]

i guess we all hope that!
the human body is an amazing machinery so i hope for the best...

 

[markw]

Red Bulletin- Beyond the possible

Looks like Herbert suffered a serious brain damage :/

Interesting article.

So what I understand from that, is that essentially he got a serious bend due to a rapid ascent, due to having blacked out at -100m and not hold any stops - enough to cause blood vessels to burst in his brain due to rapid decompression. (essentially a deco stroke). Eeek.

So enough to unbalance his motor control, and mean he's almost had to learn to walk again. Glad it didn't scupper his personality though - it seems as though it only affected some of his control and language.

Sounds truly horrific - I wish him a speedy recovery. As others have said - the body is a magical thing. With time, and patience, he will get slowly better.

 

[Waterysmile]

I wish you all the best, Herbert. Get as as well as you can.

 

[CEngelbrecht]

I do think this info came well too late.
Herbert, take some DHA and Iodine pills and bide the time, I trust that you make a full recovery.