Man In Critical Condition After Getting Sick While Diving In Lake Michigan
CHICAGO (CBS)-- A diver was rushed to the hospital in critical condition early Sunday after suffering from decompression sickness.
The Fire Department said around 11:20 a.m. that its crews were heading out into Lake Michigan for a diving accident.
They found the 40-year-old diver in a dive boat 18 miles east of Navy Pier. He was suffering from decompression sickness, also called the bends, which is caused by coming up to the surface too fast.
CFD 6-8-8 is performing an intercept of a dive boat that has a recreation diver aboard with decompression sickness.
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) October 6, 2019
The victim will be offloaded at Montrose harbor and transported to a hospital with an operable hyperbaric chamber. Victim is in serious to critical condition.
The fire rescue boat took the diver up to Montrose Harbor. From there, he was rushed several miles to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, which has the required hyperbaric chamber to treat him, the Fire Department said.
Update victim is on shore in care of CFD Ambulance and is being evaluated at present. Hospital destination still pending.
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) October 6, 2019