Video

THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES

The most terrifying video you’ll see all day captures moment scuba diver nearly drowns when she yanks off breathing equipment UNDER WATER while having a panic attack

The woman races 50ft to the surface as she risks contracting the bends

Danny Collins

Published: 13:22, 11 Aug 2016
Updated: 16:10, 11 Aug 2016

THIS is the heart-stopping moment a scuba diver has a panic attack - while 50 FEET below the surface.

The unnamed woman almost drowned after spitting out her breathing gear while down on a dive in Cape Town, South Africa.

The unnamed diver appears to remove her mouthpiece as she has a panic attack while 50ft under water — The unnamed diver appears to remove her mouthpiece as she has a panic attack while 50ft under waterCredit: Steve Gerber

As she panics, she begins to flap her arms, desperate to get the surface — As she panics, she begins to flap her arms, desperate to get the surfaceCredit: Steve Gerber

The woman's panic is made clear as a fellow diver caught the moment on camera — The woman's panic is made clear as a fellow diver caught the moment on cameraCredit: Steve Gerber

Clearly panicked, she flutters her arms around as an instructor tries to place his mouthpiece in her mouth.

After apparently tossing away her goggles, she stares wide-eyed at the four divers around her, unsure what to do.

And, left with no other choice, she makes the dangerous decision to swim straight for the surface.

Once above the surface, she gasps for breath and takes huge lungfuls of air as she floats on her back.

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The video was uploaded to YouTube by Steve Gerber.

He said: "She would have drowned as her buddy was just as inexperienced as she was.

"Due to the bad visibility we got separated from the dive master. I just tried to keep everyone together and decided to ascend.

“After communicating this through to all the members and starting the descend I noticed that she was not ascending and could see she was starting to panic.

“I actually started to swim towards her before she ripped off her mask and regulator."

Fearing she may drown, the diver makes her way to the surface quickly — Fearing she may drown, the diver makes her way to the surface quicklyCredit: Steve Gerber

But doing so risks her suffering from decompression sickness, more often known as the bends — But doing so risks her suffering from decompression sickness, more often known as the bendsCredit: Steve Gerber

Her ordeal is finally ended when she reaches the surface and takes a huge lungful of air — Her ordeal is finally ended when she reaches the surface and takes a huge lungful of airCredit: Steve Gerber

Swimming quickly to the surface during a dive can cause decompression sickness.

Also know as the bends, the condition can cause headaches and nausea while extreme bouts can result in death.

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