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hopefully not a repost.

http://www.breitling.com/en/news/index. ... tent=64880

I am afraid it is. But no harm done to watch it over.

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Not sure if anybody in this forum has been following the events around Nitsch's Extreme 800 project... Do you know how his condition is right now? It's been over a month since there were any news in the media about him.

well, things do not sound so good ...

following statement was published today by Herbert's father:


"The sympathy of many friends, acquaintances, freedivers and media is overwhelming and we are thankful for it.

Right now, after these "initial" days and weeks of stress, Herbert and myself really need some peace of mind. Herbert is improving daily, but in small steps.

He is currently in rehabilitation, walking, talking, eating, smiling, riding an exercise bike, but altogether still recuperating from the dive.

It was an accident with serious consequences, and it will take a while to reach complete recovery. But Herbert's doctors are convinced, based on his overall fitness and mental strength, that he will not suffer any long term damage.

As much as we would like to, it is simply not possible for us to reply to each message individually or share daily news. Herbert will make his own statement in due time.

Up until then, we thank you all and keep crossing fingers for his full recovery.

Gerhard Nitsch, Herbert's father

Just for the record: Herbert Nitsch seems o.k. so far. At least he showed up at the austrian apnoe championships. He still is the president of the austrian A.I.D.A.
http://tauchen.nullzeit.at/Content.Node/news/2012/11/Apnoe__Hydro_Dynamic_2012.de.php

rather sad documentary yesterday on Austria's TV channel ORF2 about Herbert Nitsch, he has now managed to walk and talk again, but his condition was "on the egde" for quite a long time. Turns out he decided against having a decompression chamber on-site due to budgetary restraints - and he had "never needed it before" .....

http://tvthek.orf.at/l/programs/1319-Th ... dem-Unfall

Very sad. He's done a couple of recent interviews too but clearly going to be a very long recovery for him.

It's amazing how long it has taken to get as far as he has, but the "multiple strokes" he suffered could've easily killed him. Terrible situation and I truly wish him well with his continued recovery.

As an aside though, No Limits freediving is something of a circus freak-show IMHO. Yes it's always incredible when someone breaks the record, etc, etc, but actively trying to find the limit of the human body in an environment where, when you find that limit you either die or suffer permanent life-changing injury, will always end in disaster at some point. Think about it rationally, and there is no other way it could possibly end.

To my mind it's no different to a skydiver trying to find out how low he can open his 'chute. Crazy.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I completely agree. But still, there is something fascinating about it, isn't it? I wonder if Herbert Nitsch still has a contract with Breitling.

A 60 minutes sports edition had a section on the free dive that ended it all for Herbert. Crazy yet fascinating stuff. As I remember it (for those who didn't see it), basically he passed out from the extreme depth and on his ascent, his self-designed rig didn't eject him at the right time, which meant he hit the surface without decompressing sufficiently and thus contracted the bends. His safety divers then attempted to take him back down to decompress but he passed out again and they then had to transport him to a decompression unit. Unfortunately the damage was done.

Tough to imagine this not happening at some time as D8 indicated. The lead up wasn't ideal which I'm sure contributed. Sad but still an incredible story. I wish him well.

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