#5919
DIVER’S IN DISTRESS I
SCUBASMITTY - 9/08/2011 3:32 AM
Category: General
Replies: 0

Hello All.

This is an update and request for help from Scuba Mau.
I just want everyone to know that the following letter was written on behalf of our friends and family at Scuba Mau and the families and loved ones of Opal, Gabi and Heath.
Everyone, Opal’s mom, her brothers, Gabi and Heath and the management of the dive shop have all approved the letter.
Thank for letting me relay it to you all.
Jennifer


To all the friends of Opal Cohn Torelli, Gabriel Silva (Gabi Loco) of ScubaMau and Heath Hood.

We want to thank all of you for your calls, thoughts and prayers for Opal and Gabi during this very difficult time. 
Many of you in the dive community may already be aware of the serious dive accident that took place on Saturday, September 3rd in Cozumel, involving Opal, Gabi Loco and Heath Hood. The accident resulted in serious decompression injuries for all three and the most gravely injured was Opal. 
Currently, Opal is in intensive critical care at San Miguel Hospital and is paralyzed and sedated, unable to breathe on her own, and is intubated and breathing via a ventilator. Because Opal did not have any type of insurance, costs are quickly mounting and her medical care here in Cozumel is very limited. 
Most urgently, Opal needs to be transferred to a hospital in the U.S. in the next 12 – 48 hours. Because she has been intubated for the last 5 days, it will be medically necessary to move her immediately to a facility that can perform a tracheotomy, as the intubation is becoming increasingly unstable and her life is at serious risk. 
Divemaster Gabi Loco, is also in very serious condition and at this report is unable to walk and has no movement in his legs. Our dear frie