Divers' explode into 'million pieces' as organs 'come out of body'

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: FOUR MEN WERE KILLED INSTANTLY AND A FIFTH SUFFERED LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES IN A HORRIFIC FREAK ACCIDENT ON AN OIL RIG IN THE NORTH SEA 14:00, 03 Jun 2025Updated

14:32, 03 Jun 2025 A horrifying incident on the Byford Dolphin oil rig on 5 November 1983 resulted in the immediate death of five workers, while a sixth narrowly escaped with life-altering

injuries. The crew were carrying out routine maintenance work at the time, as per a YouTube video that has now garnered over 5 million views. The video explains how the men met their tragic

end while working on the oil rig situated in the North Sea near Norway, when an abrupt pressure change wreaked havoc on their bodies. Roy Lucas, 38, Edwin Coward, 36, Truls Hellevik, 34,

Bjorn Giaever, 29, William Crammond, 33, and Martin Saunders, 30, were all present on the rig during the catastrophe. The intense pressure caused three men's bodies to disintegrate into

countless pieces, and another was crushed to death. The final casualty of the accident was drawn through a small hole, resulting in his organs being expelled from his body. The diving team

had descended to a depth of 295 feet to carry out their work, utilising a special chamber known as a diving bell for transportation. This diving bell was linked to another set of chambers

where divers temporarily resided. These areas facilitated the transition from the high-pressure underwater environment to pressurised living quarters, reports the Mirror US. Article

continues below As humans descend deeper underwater, the pressure increases. However, the primary risk arises not from descending further into the depths, but rather from ascending from

below. The ascent towards the surface causes nitrogen and helium to dissolve into divers' bloodstream, a potentially hazardous situation. To mitigate this, divers in the chambers inhale

a specific blend of gases, usually helium and oxygen, adjusted according to the depth of the dive. Decompression sickness can occur if divers ascend too rapidly, as the swift pressure

release transforms the dissolved nitrogen in the bloodstream back into gas, forming nitrogen bubbles throughout the body. This can result in symptoms such as nausea, joint pain, and

dizziness, and in severe cases, it can be fatal. The only safeguard is a slow and careful return to the surface, allowing the nitrogen to naturally diffuse. The diving team was scheduled to

spend up to 28 days in the confined high-pressure chamber, where they would work, eat, and sleep together. On the day of the tragic incident, Hellevik and Giaever had just finished a 12-hour

maintenance shift at a depth of 295 feet, as reported by the Daily Mail. After their shift, the team ascended back to the surface using the diving bell, which was expected to be reconnected

to the diving chambers. The diving tenders, who managed the air supply for the maintenance team, had also been on duty for 12 hours at that point. Once inside from the diving bell, the two

divers shut the door and adjusted the chamber's pressure to ensure it was securely sealed. Typically, they would then isolate the chamber and connect it to the dive bell, which would

gradually depressurise for the divers' safety. However, on this particular day, one of the divers outside the bell unlatched it before it had been fully depressurised. This unfastened

clamp caused the chamber system to abruptly shift from the pressure of being 297 feet underwater to the air pressure at the surface. The sudden rush of air exiting the chamber propelled the

diving bell violently, striking Crammond and killing him instantly, while leaving Saunders partially crushed by the 4000 kg object. Saunders suffered a collapsed lung, back fractures, and a

broken neck, but he was the sole survivor on board. The other divers met a far grimmer fate as the pressure ripped through the living chamber, pulling Hellaevik off his feet and causing

instantaneous death for those inside, as reported by YouTube channel Storified. The three divers - Lucus, Coward, and Giaever - who were resting before their shift, died on the spot.

According to Storified, the pressure change caused dissolved nitrogen to revert to a gaseous state before solidifying in their arteries, veins, hearts, and other organs. The aftermath saw

their body parts strewn across the chamber. Hellevik endured the most horrific death as he was nearest to the partially open connecting door. He was propelled through a 24-inch (60.9 cm)

opening with a force of 25 tons, causing his organs to explode out of his body. Article continues below The incident remains an enigma as the exact cause is still unclear, but it highlighted

the urgent need for improvements in diving safety.