Paralysed diver Dan Metcalfe-Hall has succeeded in powering his way for more than 5km , on an endurance dive , using arm power only . Dan took exactly 333 minutes to break three records in the category of arm-powered scuba diving .
Dan , 34 , from Grantham in Lincolnshire , was involved in a motorcycle crash when he was 26 . It left him a T8 paraplegic , with no movement or feeling from just under his chest and down . He became a competitive hand cyclist , but was then involved in a second accident , which further damaged his neck and shoulder .
For a while he struggled with mental health and PTSD issues . However , Dan had already started diving ; his friends at Bingham BSAC encouraged him to get back in the water . “ It was a lifesaver ,” he says . “ I felt free in the water ; all the stress was gone . I had found a new purpose and drive that I hadn ’ t experienced in a long time .”
Dan ’ s epic dive in late September involved the support of a group of 30 people from different diving backgrounds , acting as safety divers , videographers , ROV operators , surface support and cylinder changes .
He was fundraising for the Magpas Air Ambulance – which he credits for saving his life after the original crash – and also the Scuba Trust and Stoney Cove , to raise money for improved disabled facilities .
While he describes feeling “ absolutely
“ The weirdest thing was going from five and a half hours of silence underwater to the sound of 50 people cheering when I surfaced .”
knackered ” at the conclusion of the dive , Dan reports no unusual side-effects from cold or duration underwater . “ I was exhausted , sure , but there was no risk of decompression illness ; I covered the final lap on 50 per cent oxygen ,” he says . “ You sweat a lot in a drysuit , so it got cold quickly when I stopped for the [ underwater ] cylinder changes . It was a very emotional day , but the only symptom afterwards was a headache from being slightly dehydrated . I was just tired . The weirdest thing was going from five and a half hours of silence underwater to the sound of 50 people cheering when I surfaced .”
At the conclusion of his dive , Dan was checked over by his friend , National Instructor Andy Jarvis from Bingham BSAC . “ I was fine , but the guys at Stoney Cove wouldn ’ t let me lift myself from the water , so I was hoisted out where normally I could lift myself . I remember saying to Andy Jarvis there was no way anyone was putting me on a stretcher !”
Above all , Dan was full of gratitude to his team and supporters , singling out Andy and tech instructor Robert Thomas for their help . He also thanked the venue , Stoney Cove , while expressing hope that some improvements could be made to its facilities for disabled divers .
• At the time of writing , Dan ’ s appeal was just shy of its £ 5,000 target . To donate , visit Dan ’ s JustGiving page at tinyurl . com / Wheelsdan �
Record-breaker
Dan and team believe he has succeeded in breaking three records for underwater endurance . They are :
■ Fastest mile covered by scuba diving in fresh open water while wearing a swimming band , in one hour 28 minutes . The titular band is used to prevent people from using their legs to assist propulsion . Even though Dan ’ s legs are completely paralysed , he had to wear the band to fulfil the category requirements .
■ Fastest mile covered by scuba diving in fresh open water by someone with muscle paralysis . “ It basically means no abs , no core , no leg movement ,” Dan explains . The category is different , but the time is the same – one hour and 28 minutes .
■ To beat the longest distance covered by a scuba diver operating solely on hand-power , Dan had to cover at least 5km at depths of 6-8m . It was estimated to take around six hours , with cylinder changes every 50 minutes . In the end , he covered the 5km plus an additional 246 metres in five hours and 32 minutes .
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