When I went through the training and made my ascent in the water-filled tower, it never occurred to me that anyone might have lost their life doing the same thing. But during unrelated historical research—searching old newspapers for completely different topics—I stumbled across two separate articles, years apart, both reporting the death of a sailor during escape training. I wasn’t even looking for that. But there it was.
The Day, New London, Connecticut, July 28, 1934
Official Statement of Accident Made
James R. Griffin, fireman first class, United States navy, who lost from his mouth the mouthpiece of a submarine escape apparatus known as a “lung” while undergoing instruction in ascents from the dummy submarine compartment at the 100-foot depth in the submarine escape training tank at the Submarine Base, died yesterday at the base, where a recompression chamber was used in an attempt to save his life.
Griffin was taken from the water in the tank at 9:45 o’clock yesterday morning and pronounced dead at 11:12 o’clock, but official announcement of the death was not made by navy officials until the early evening after the attempt in the recompression chamber was completed at 4:07 o’clock yesterday afternoon and the body was removed from the chamber for an autopsy.
Official Statement
An official announcement of the accident was made today by officials at the base. It was, in part: The cause of death is believed to have been air embolism—the bursting of the lungs due to internal air pressure and the consequent injection of air bubbles into the blood stream, which paralyze the brain and block the heart. Death was probably instantaneous. The injury was quite likely induced by the man holding his breath as he ascended through the water, preventing the escape of the air in the lungs which expanded as the water pressure decreased. The “lung” which Griffin used was apparently in perfect mechanical condition. Eighteen other men undergoing the training with Griffin made successful ascents. A navy board of inquest is collecting all facts available in an attempt to determine exact causes of the accident.
A total of approximately 25,000 separate escapes have been made with the lung from depths of 18 feet to 100 feet in the submarine escape training tank at the U. S. Submarine Base, New London.
Lost ‘Lung’ from Mouth
The official announcement of the accident states that Griffin was observed at between 30 and 40 feet from the surface hanging onto the ascent line unconscious and having lost the “lung” mouthpiece from his mouth.
He was hauled to the surface, given artificial respiration immediately and placed under pressure in the recompression chamber. Expert medical attendants especially trained in the treatment of underwater casualties were already on the spot.
Artificial respiration was continued until 12:54 o’clock in the afternoon.
Griffin’s body was taken to the undertaking rooms of Robert H. Eyles, 13 Masonic street, where it remained today, pending orders from naval authorities.
Griffin’s home address yesterday was announced as Los Angeles, but today the corrected address of San Diego, Cal., was given.
