Info on Cousteau guy who died in Lake Ontario (70's)?

[Brian Nadwidny]

Anyone know the details on the Cousteau guy that died while diving the
Rae in Lake Ontario when Cousteau visited back in the 70's (80's?). I
just bought a book that mentions it but gives no details like name,
circumstances, etc. Just that it was all very hush-hush.

Brian
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

[S1WEIR]

<<Anyone know the details on the Cousteau guy that died while diving the Rae in
Lake Ontario when Cousteau visited back in the 70's (80's?). I just bought a
book that mentions it but gives no details like name, circumstances, etc. Just
that it was all very hush-hush>>

There was a death when Cousteau was in the Great Lakes working on a project in
conjunction with the National Film Board. At the time the accident wasn't
really hush hush at all, in fact there was quite a bit of press coverage
albeit at the back of the newspaper.

I tried to find my copy of the Ontario Underwater Council's report on the
incident, but, it was so long ago, I just can't seem to find it (which is no
big suprise considering the state of my office). So, just writing from memory,
it went something like this. Cousteau team were filming a Lake Ontario wreck
and used one of their French (from France) crew to hold a light above the
wrecksite while hanging onto a line.

The crew member wasn't that experienced a diver and I believe it was one of his
first dives he made in the Great Lakes. It was cold and back in those days
the viz was nil, He didn't descend to the wreck but stayed alone above the
wreck with the light.

When the Cousteau team finished filming and started back to the surface the
diver was missing. His body was recovered later.

The Province of Ontario did hold a well publicized coroner's hearing. I don't
believe that anyone from the Cousteau family attended the hearing. The
Coroner's report made several reccommendations about how TV and film shoots are
conducted underwater in Ontario waters, I believe the Ministry of Labour
adopted some of them.

If you need to know the year of the incident and the name of the diver who
died, give Nancy Parton a call at the Ontario Underwater Council at
416-426-7034. If she can find a copy of the report she will send it along to
you .... it will probably cost a couple of bucks and mailage. She will also
try to sell you a ticket to Underwater Canada for a few dollars more!

sweir

[char...@gmail.com]

As I recall it was during the afore mentioned dive on a wreck but that wasn't where or how the diver died as I recall. Cousteau and crew decided to investigate the underwater lights etc. That had been reported by pilots and various others deep underwater of the lake. A crew member let it out that diver in serious trouble was on 'point' if you will and something happened which caused him to ascend faster than not only the small bubbles but also the large ones. There was nothing wrong with the gear just apparent panic. Also he was not a novice diver, nobody on Cousteau's crew was a novice. All was wrapped and tagged and a cover story was arrainged ....... At the time there was a lot of speculation if an underwater swamp gas bubble or a weather balloon would be the reason for the whole incident . The light holder is about as believable nobody noticed the light holder had dropped the light ? Also the visibility there if you've ever made a descent in that location unless you were with the divers any illumination device would be useless. Now consider all that and how fast the body was recovered....in very cold water with a negative dive set.....because the diver died of the bends out of the water. No further dives were made, was a shame and a great loss regardless.