Highly decorated Dr Norman (Nick) McIver has died aged 76.
Dr McIver was a pioneer in offshore medicine. He was the key UK diving physician during the emergence of the UK’s North Sea industry.
His breakthroughs and persistence helped carve out a safer sector for North Sea divers. Dr McIver helped bring a hyberbaric unit to James Paget Hospital in 1996 – one of a handful in the country.
He often flew out to diving chambers to resuscitate divers and prescribe life-saving drugs.
He later trained diver medics in neurological examinations, paving the way for early diagnosis and better treatment.
He was born in Northampton on August 20, 1940.
He qualified after earning his medical degree at Kings College and Westminster Hospital in 1965. He later fulfilled a five year army commission.
He went on to establish himself as the forthright diving medical expert in the Southern Gas fields before tackling the conditions for divers in deeper waters offshore Aberdeen.
He was diving medical consultant to the top UK, American and Norwegian oil and construction companies and supported many diving projects in the Far and Middle East remotely.
In 1981 he was awarded the Craig Hoffman award for his contribution to diving safety by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society USA. He was later named an Officer of the Order of St John and awarded an OBE.
He served as the secretary of the groundbreaking Diving Medical Advisory Committee, which was founded to raise standards and establish safety polices for the offshore industry.
He is survived by his wife Rita, three children Catherine, Bruce and Joni and three grandchildren Tabatha, Josh and Fin.
There will be a celebration of his life at the Pier Hotel, Gorleston on Friday, October 28 at 12.30pm for family, colleagues and friends.
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