Alejandro Ramos Martinez is a Peruvian fisherman who goes diving for his catch. After having come too quickly back to the surface during his most recent dive, Martinez’s body began to react strangely, eventually doubling in volume. The diver is still completely deformed—parts of his body look like balloons about to burst.
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Since the accident, Martinez has gained more than 30 kilos, particularly along his arms and chest. His too-rapid ascent caused nitrogen to accumulate in his blood, forming the enormous bubbles that give him his current appearance.
These symptoms are extremely painful for Martinez. Doctors are currently trying to treat his rare condition by keeping him under oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The fisherman easily could have died without this intensive care. As it is, he has difficulty moving and suffers from serious hypertension.
Miguel Alarcon, a doctor at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pisco, Peru, stated that around 30% of the nitrogen that was in Martinez’s blood has been drained out. Doctors are still trying to uncover the exact causes of Martinez’s unique reaction.
