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[CAUTION: DISTRESSING CONTENT] [Note: Subtitles are not an official transcript, and are my own personal transcription attempt. Wording errors may be present.] Realtime simulation of the event by Francis Hermans: The official report produced by the Commission of Inquiry has been released and can be viewed here: Link 1: Link 2: Link 3: #K5YGN5ugk7CpmHpJgSP2w6qv4Rpq9oox9uaKKc2QRoc The footage you're seeing was recorded off of a TV by TTTNews during a viewing at the Commission of Enquiry. I have uploaded this in the hopes that it may raise awareness into the tragedy that occurred at the Paria Fuel Trading Company. If any of my details in the description below are incorrect, please do let me know in the comments so that I may correct it. My heart goes out to Chris, the families of the divers, and everyone in Trinidad affected by this tragedy. On February 25th, 2022, five divers were sent into a hyperbaric chamber (Referred to as a “dry habitat“) environment located just beneath the surface of the ocean at Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd at Pointe-a-Pierre. The five divers Fyzal Kurban, Kazim Ali Jr, Rishi Nagassar, Yusuf Henry and Christopher Boodram were conducting maintenance to add a riser to a pipe that connected to an undersea oil pipeline. Diver Kazim Ali wore a GoPro camera, the footage of which is seen in this video. As they were conducting their operation, a pressure differential occurred leading to a physical phenomenon known as “Delta P“. Delta P is a well recognised danger in the diving and underwater world that occurs when the environmental pressure of one space varies enough from the pressure of another, that it creates an immensely powerful 'suction vortex', which can be inhibiting or fatal. The divers were instantly sucked into the pipeline, as is evident in the footage. The men were carried vertically down the underwater pipe, and then trajected horizontally along the pipe some distance (It is hard to gauge exactly how long, but more than 120 feet as this is where the stuck diving equipment was located). When the divers came to rest, they were laying on their backs in an air pocket located in a slightly raised section of pitch-black pipe. The oil and sediment in this area of the pipe was approximately 6-8 inches deep, and the diameter of the pipe was 30 inches (A bit smaller than the size of a hula hoop.) Recognising that it was not safe to remain here, Diver Christopher Boodram encouraged the other divers to form a human chain, where each member would interlock their feet under the next mans shoulders, allowing them to pull each other along. The divers had no light source nor breathing apparatus. Their eyes and lungs burned, and their ears rang. As Christopher and Fyzal began to move along the pipe, Christopher noted that the liquid level grew higher as they moved along. He recognised that they would be submerged if they continued. Christopher, laying on his back and with no breathing apparatus or vision, bravely proceeded into the liquid, and fortunately discovered two scuba breathing tanks that had been sucked into the pipe with them. These scuba tanks saved Christophers life. Equipping these, Christopher and Fyzal were able to proceed into the oil filled section of pipe until they reached another air pocket inside the pipe. At this stage, Fyzal indicated that he no longer wished to proceed further. Christopher maintained that they must keep going to escape. He continued on alone, promising to send help as soon as he could. Christopher reached an L bend in the pipe after many hours. He was able to move vertically before reaching a dead end. He banged on the pipe to indicate that he was inside. A diver outside heard the noise, and knocked in response, to which Christopher responded with more noise, and it was established to the external diver that Christopher was inside. The top of the pipe was opened and Christopher rescued. He notified people on the surface that the other divers were not far down and still alive, and urged for a rescue be affected. The rescue diver performed a search of the pipe and reported seeing scuba tanks about 80 feet inside. Autopsies revealed that other divers were alive for at least 3 days following the incident as banging on the pipe was observed in this time. May Fyzal Kurban, Kazim Ali Jr, Rishi Nagassar, Yusuf Henry Rest in Peace. Sources: Commission Of Enquiry Into Paria-LMCS Diving Tragedy as featured by TTT Live Surviving Diver Christopher Boodrams testimony:
