Real Risk

Check out the video podcast on the REAL RISK YOUTUBE channel!

Few individuals can claim to have truly expert knowledge and mastery of the practical aspects of their discipline. Dr Simon Mitchell is the Professor of Anaesthesiology at Auckland University and is widely acclaimed in the field of diving and hyperbaric medicine. His often very practical research into operational and equipment based diving conundrums, makes him a highly sought after, and very entertaining speaker at diving and medical conferences. The breadth and (literal) depth of his diving experience is extraordinary, from reef blasting as a young man, to military, commercial and technical diving - he has amassed many thousands of dives.

Simon was involved in a record breaking dive with friend Trevor Jackson in the quest to identify a wreck purported to be the Hospital Ship Centaur.  He is an exceptional underwater photographer. He has been a spearfishing and underwater hockey champion. He is the ultimate waterman, a talented educator and a great bloke to share a beer with!

This episode dedicated to Operation Flinders

Watch the full video interview on You Tube under Real Risk Podcast

Hugh Riminton is a citizen of the world. Growing up in Ceylon, then New Zealand before moving to Australia he has covered stories from around the globe. From the world's most dangerous settlement of Soweto, the killing fields of Rwanda and the horrific cost of the Somalian famine; I suspect Hugh's eyes have witnessed more pain and suffering than anyone should experience. And yet he remains a kind, generous and gentle soul with unique insights into the human condition. Hugh's story is a remarkable place to start for episode 1 of the 3rd series of Real Risk.

Watch the full video episode HERE

Check out his book 'Minefields'

To finish the series, the frightening account of the shark attack that so nearly cost Chris Blowes his life. The attack ended with his two mates watching the shark swimming off with their friend's leg in its mouth, towing his surfboard by the leg rope behind it. That imagery is so much worse than anything that Hollywood could dream up.

Over the next few hours Chris came as close to dying as one can. Another inexplicable survival story in the vein of last week's episode with diver Chris Lemons. But Chris Blowes survived to marry his girlfriend, have a child, return to work and perhaps most courageously, return to surfing. It is yet another story of courage, inspiration and humility that makes Chris a worthy final guest for the series. I also spoke with Dr Kylie Stanton who coordinated the medical retrieval from the SA Ambulance Emergency Operations Centre. Her medical insights into Chris's survival are equally fascinating. Enjoy!

Edit-the quote attributed to Chloe at the end of the podcast was actually stated by Dr Michelle Cresp.

Chris Blowes will release his book "Caught Inside" this December 2020. 

In this second episode of Life on a Line, we rejoin Chris Lemons on the seabed in the North Sea. His umbilical is severed, and he has switched on his bailout gas with the knowledge that in 8 minutes his gas supply will be exhausted and he will die...

Make sure you listen to the previous episode first!

The world of saturation diving is high tech, complex and fascinating. The physics and physiology present unbreakable rules that must be followed to remain safe. The  risks of decompression sickness, High Pressure Nervous Syndrome (HPNS), oxygen toxicity and inert gas narcosis are carefully managed. But perhaps the hardest part; living in the confines of the hyperbaric quarters for 28 days with no possibility of early release. You have to be the right kind of person.

In 2012, Chris Lemons was an experienced commercial diver, but relatively new to sat diving. "Sat" is the pinnacle of the job, good pay, exciting work and greatly respected. And he loves it. So when a highly improbable sequence of events occurred on board the ship nearly 100m above him in the middle of the North Sea late one night, he managed the chain of event which followed with a measured calm born of inner strength and years of training. He stayed calm right up until the moment his life support umbilical snapped...he then knew that in approximately 8 minutes his breathing gas would run out and he would die.

Documentary Last Breath     
Chris Lemons website

Paddling onto a 70 foot wave must make every nerve in your brain scream STOP! The deafening roar, the wedge like tons of water curling over then hurling you down towards the reef visible beneath the shallows at the bottom of the drop. The explosion occurring all around as you reach an impossible speed if you are still standing at the base of the beast, as you then desperately try to cut across the face to escape the monster that seeks to crush you. Frankly it is inconceivable that anyone has such courage. And wave names like Jaws and Killer do nothing to misconstrue or deceive.

In what has been the domain of male big wave legends like Laird Hamilton and Eddie Aikau, there is a group of determined female athletes challenging the status quo. And from some of the venom and vitriol I read on social media a lot of the surfing establishment is not happy. But these woman are a force that cannot be ignored. Check out names like Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly and Aussie Felicity Palmateer. But today I talk to the surfer of the biggest wave ever ridden by a woman, Brazilian born Nazare resident Maya Gabeira. Check out the footage of the wave here and Maya's website here 

Alex Honnold is cool. Beyond cool actually. His skill and calm transcend what most of us can conceive is possible. And yet when you chat with him he is immediately likeable and you can imagine hanging out. His enthusiasm makes you want to go climbing with him although in my case that would be very embarrassing. I do suspect he'd help you maximise your potential. After all, he guided his own mum to the top of El Cap in her 60s!

I can't remember enjoying talking to someone more than I did Alex. And when I somewhat clumsily asked him if Autism Spectrum Disorder was the key to his fearless attacks on the big walls, he seemed as interested in the possibility as I was. Enjoy the conversation and see what conclusions we came to.

Three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, three weeks without food. We all know the saying, but some people just refuse to acknowledge these kinds of rules. James Scott, a young medical student was such a guy. He left Australia for an adventure in Nepal, a clinical placement which would set him up for his return to start a career in surgery back home. But a poorly judged trek at the beginning of the Himalayan winter left him trapped without food, starving to death in a rock shelter in sub zero conditions. 43 days later, as close to death as you ever want to come, he was found thanks to a relentless search by his sister Joanne.

It is an extraordinary story of courage, stubbornness and the ingrained will to live.

The documentary 'Free Solo" based around the rope-less ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park by Alex Honnold had us all on the edge of our seats. I found myself holding my breath, at times barely able to look at the screen even though I knew Alex would ultimately succeed. To capture the drama of that quest took both great technical and dramatic skill; the perfect marriage of talents for two film makers - Jimmy Chin (the mountaineer and director) and his wife 'Chai' Vasarhelyi (director and in Jimmy's words, the one who brings great restraint to the film to allow the natural drama to play out).

The film received an Academy Award and a BAFTA. But it took years in the mountains perfecting his crafts before Jimmy reached these dizzying heights. His honest account of life before the making of Free Solo is equally intriguing. Make sure you check out 'Meru" as well, which is Jimmy and Chai's first climbing documentary!

When your father is Jack Brabham a three times Formula 1 World Champion, it seems likely that motorsport will be in your blood. And as it turned out all three of Jack's sons took to the track like the proverbial ducks to water. David Brabham never intended to race cars, he was content driving the farm ute at breakneck speeds sideways around the local dirt roads. But when he casually entered a gokart race with a friend one day, he discovered a natural aptitude and competitive spirit that would stand him in good stead for many years. From karting, to sedans, various open wheelers, sports cars and even F1, he became a champion in his own right. And in this conversation, he describes that amazing journey whilst at times living in the shadow of his legendary father, and the family name that still means so much to all Australians.

Oh and if you fancy a nice ride for yourself, check out the Brabham BT62!

www.brabham.co.uk 
www.brabhamautomotive.com