Following the unfortunate death of Jared Hires on 3rd April 2024, there is always rampant internet speculation on the how, the why and how people would have handled things differently if it was them. For obvious reasons, I’ve always shied away from any online discussion when this happens. Ultimately, everything discussed online is guesswork and pure speculation. Discovering the cause of death in relation to a diving incident can only be done with extensive research into the very specific circumstances of the incident in question. There is no room for supposition or “maybe”, as this is not only unproductive but also distressing for the friends, family and dive buddies of the diver who was lost.
With this in mind, DAN Europe have released their preliminary analysis of the incident at Plura Cave and this is based on extensive research, lengthy interviews with divers and first responders, along with an in-depth look at the equipment and dive computers of Jared Hires. Even then, this is a “most likely” result based on all of these factors.
After careful review and consultation with experts in diving accident analysis, we conclude that this tragic accident was caused by a medical event and predisposition of the diver, and that neither equipment failure or error in human-machine interaction is responsible for the outcome. The diver was likely not aware of the implications that a first-time unprovoked seizure could have. The dive team did everything humanly possible in this challenging environment to rescue the diver.
In summary, we feel that it is important to educate the diving community about medical and physiological issues that, while easily manageable at the surface, can prove fatal when experienced underwater, especially in extreme environments.
DAN Europe Preliminary Analysis
I would highly recommend that you take a minute to read the entire analysis. You can read the full report here
