A DIVER was flown to hospital after becoming unwell at sea.

The casualty was suffering from suspected decompression sickness when they were picked up from a dive boat by the Coastguard helicopter off Selsey yesterday.

Coastguard crews were called to the helicopter landing site at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester at 4.25pm to help transfer the patient into the care of hospital staff.

Teams were stood down after this was completed.

A Selsey Coastguard spokesman said: “The coast and the sea can catch you out whether you’re local or not.

“Our message remains: call 999 Coastguard if you’re in trouble.

“Please help us and our families stay safe. Be aware of the risks, keep your distance.”

Decompression sickness, also known as the bends, can affect divers as well as those taking part in high altitude events.

It is caused by a rapid decrease in the pressure that surrounds the casualty, which can happen when divers return to the water’s surface.

An article from the Harvard Medical School states: “If this transition occurs too quickly, the nitrogen does not have time to clear from your blood.

“Instead, it separates out of your blood and forms bubbles in your tissues or blood. It is these nitrogen bubbles that cause decompression sickness.

“The condition is called the bends because the joint and bone pains can be so severe they double you over.”