A DIVER has been airlifted by the Coastguard helicopter to the recompression chamber at Poole following a rapid ascent two miles south of Lyme Regis.

The National Maritime Operations Centre received a Pan Pan (urgency) broadcast from a dive vessel at 10.20am today reporting that a diver was having breathing difficulties after suffering a rapid ascent.

The Coastguard helicopter from Portland was scrambled and airlifted the diver to the recompression chamber.

The Poole Coastguard Rescue Team manned the landing site at the hospital.

Mark Rodaway, duty commander at the National Maritime Operations Centre said: “Speed is of the essence in rapid ascent incident and the dive boat did exactly the right thing in broadcasting a pan pan message on channel 16 as soon as the diver began exhibiting symptoms of decompression sickness.

“As we move into the diving season I’d like to take this opportunity to remind divers to dive within their capabilities and to ensure that they keep up-to-date with training.”