Sometimes the most bazaar things can happen on a recovery operation. Keep in mind that I am talking about swimmers, boaters, SCUBA divers or anyone who chances going on the water or into the water.
When a recovery team is called out, it is usually on the weekend, late in the evening, and since most of our New Mexico State lakes are isolated, a long trip. This particular time was no exception. (When I get called out I never know if I may have had to go more than 150 miles to the drowning) Another "member" would come from some other town, or several from all over the state depending on the extent of the problem. As one travels to the site, all kind of things go through the mind. What does the victim look like? --- How many are there?---How long have they been under water? --- How deep is the place where the victim was last seen? --- Are relatives there? (A very difficult handling operation) --- How murky is the water? --- these are just a few things that go though ones mind. The tension rises the closer we get to the site. On arriving at the site one has to take stock of the situation. Handle the relatives or friends --they want their love one or friend out. They think a recovery operation can start as soon as only one diver gets there. Can not do! We as divers MUST insure the safety of all. We also have to insure that other law enforcement officers cordon off the area to keep spectators away. It takes planning to do a recovery operation. Not to go into a lot of details, time has to be spent preparing equipment, talking to witnesses, ensuring that there are safety divers, etc.
There is no "gore" in most drownings. One goes to a car accident, and we've all been conditioned to see "blood and guts" at the scene. This does not happen in a majority of drownings. The victim looks as if they were on the beach. No marks.
So this particular dive required us to get a SCUBA diver out who had drowned. The search continued for a period of time with the always present difficulty of citizens not remembering the exact spot a person went under. This is due to the many influences of the area, the day, pier pressure, fright, concern, withdrawal, etc. I could go on and on.
Approaching someone underwater requires a good stable mind or in some peoples opinion, an unstable mind. All kind of things go through your mind. Keep in mind that we, as recovery personnel, have to treat all persons underwater as we would on land. Also the integrity of the area must remain secure in case of foul play. So it does require a trained person to observe these things and report them in proper fashion.
Our diver approached the victim from a rear position. He turned the victim around and freaked out. He thought surely that this was foul play. One of the divers eyes was floating around in the mask that was still on the face of the diver. When the body was brought to the surface and examined it was found that the eye was a glass eye. It had fallen out of the divers eye socket. A bazaar tale to say the least!
