Divers at Ferry Site Suffering Fatigue, Illness

The divers working to recover people from the sunken ferry Sewol are increasingly suffering from exhaustion in the cold, fast moving waters where the ship sunk as they battle to break through closed cabin doors often blocked with debris. 

There are hundreds of coast guard, navy and civilian divers working at the site which has seen a steady flow of bodies recovered after the vessel sunk on April 16. Several divers are also suffering from decompression sickness and needing treatment after ascending from depths of over 30m, local media organisation Yonhap News Agency reports.

On Thursday, a 31-year-old civilian diver reportedly fell unconscious after diving four times before daybreak to set guide ropes around the ship. He has been treated for decompression sickness, a painful and potentially dangerous condition associated with prolonged deep diving or rapid ascent from depths. 

"For the first time in my 20 years of a diving career, I was seized by fear that I might not be able to return from underwater," a senior diver told Yonhap News Agency. Divers are now limited to diving once a day to prevent further cases of decompression sickness.

Some bodies have been found some distance from the ferry. One, believed to be a female student, was found about 4km away and in the opposite direction from another body recovered several days ago. The government disaster response team has set up nets around the area to try and prevent bodies from being swept away by the strong currents.

The confirmed death toll has now risen to 226 with 76 still missing.