Des Gorman passes away
Dive community mourns loss of renowned medical academic
Emeritus Professor Des Gorman has passed away peacefully after a long illness.
The much-loved husband of Christine; father to Anna, Sarah and Emily; father-in-law to Jason, Caleb and Reggie; and grandfather to Ava, Leo, Archie, Isla, Eli, Sienna, Sadie and Madeleine died at home surrounded by his family. A service to celebrate Des' extraordinary life will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church Takapuna on Wednesday July 9th at 1pm.
A life well lived
Originally from Otahuhu, whose father was a meat worker from Queensland and whose mother, a nurse was half Ngāpuhi, the renowned academic and medical pioneer moved to Australia after graduating from medical school. The former submariner, deep sea diver, trained 'attack swimmer' - using swimmers to attack ships - neurologist and philosopher was almost as well known for his honesty and clarity as he was for his dive expertise.
Des specialised in a number of areas, notably occupational and diving medicine. A longtime friend and colleague to many in the New Zealand Underwater Association, Des was a regular writer and contributor to NZ Dive Magazine (now Dive Pacific), and many in the diving community benefited in particular from his expertise and specialisation in the bends.
"Des was a very intelligent and generous man with quite an astonishing bank of knowledge, An an expert on the bends and brain injuries" says Dive Pacific founder and diving expert Dave Moran. "It wasn't unusual for divers suffering from the bends to be treated at the Navy's decompression chamber and hospital at their base in Devonport, Auckland.
"Des was always available to prescribe the best Decompression Table for the Chamber operator to run, for the best possible outcome for the injured diver. He would visit the recovering divers and plan with them an exercise schedule to help them recover both physically and mentally.
"Professor Simon Mitchell was Des' protege. Many of you will have heard of Simon, who is now regarded as one of the world's top diving physicians. Des was very proud that he had contributed to Simon's success.
"Des will be missed very much by the diving community. We have lost a truly great man."