A diver who suffered the “bends” following an accident off Swansea this afternoon has been airlifted to Sydney for further treatment.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) received a call from NSW Ambulance at 1.15pm on Friday 5 November to carry out an urgent medical transfer for a patient with decompression sickness.

Local paramedics initially cared for the 37-year-old man before he was transported to John Hunter Hospital.

The chopper’s Critical Care Medical Team and the JHH staff further stabilised the diver.

He was then flown to the Prince of Wales Hospital in a stable condition.

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