LAKELAND, Fla. -- A Lakeland man who was on the brink of death a week ago following a diving incident in the Gulf is warning other divers of what they should look out for to stay safe in the water.
- Lakeland diver warns of dangers of malfunctioning equipment
- Sean Haas suffered the bends when diving last week
- Haas almost died due to corrosion built up in the servo valve
Sean Haas is now almost fully recovered.
Last week, Haas dove more than a hundred feet in the waters off Anclote Key when a piece of equipment that controls divers' buoyancy malfunctioned.
"I heard the air rushing and I grabbed my inflater again, but at that point, as I started letting air out, it was going in faster than I was going out," Haas said.
In less than five seconds he shot up to the surface and started losing feeling in his arms and legs.
"I'm in trouble, I think I got the bends," Haas recalled.
From there, Haas started having seizures. Others on the boat quickly radioed the Coast Guard which flew him to Orlando where he spent seven hours recovering in a hyperbaric chamber. Haas said doctors didn't think he would survive.
"The quick response from the Coast Guard and the doctors played a miraculous result in me being alive and the grace of God. So many things played a factor," Haas said.
Haas is now warning others of the potential life-threatening situation all because of a little valve.
"Due to corrosion built up in the servo valve, it caused it to malfunction in the open position," he said. "Service your BC. Check out all your equipment."
Haas said he used to check it every two years, but now plans on checking it every year.
Doctors said Haas can't dive for the next six months, but after that, he said he plans on getting back in the water.
"That's part of my life!" he said.