From this morning's local newspaper;
Kevin Moss: Was Parkinson's disease a factor in fatal dive? - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Parkinson's did not define dead diver, family says
BOCA RATON—
Though he had tremors from an early stage case of Parkinson's disease, Kevin Moss was hardly disabled.
The 42-year-old systems analyst from
Boca Raton worked out daily at a gym, parachuted from airplanes and enthusiastically pursued his true passion, scuba diving.
Exactly what happened 45 feet below the surface of the ocean off Plantation Key during a lobster hunt Saturday afternoon may never be known. But Moss and a diving companion, Judy Boone, 53, of
Wellington, died after apparently running out of air as they fought to get to the surface, according to the
Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
According to medical experts, a Parkinson's diagnosis is not a directive to give up physical activities.
University of Miami movement disorder specialist Cenk Sengun said that for patients in the early stages of the disease, "There are no restrictions."
"Some patients are diagnosed with mild tremors, some stiffness, but are otherwise fully functional," said Sengun.
In advanced cases, however, heart function,
blood pressure and even decision-making may be compromised, said Sungun. The pressure of being deep underwater can increase those risks, he added.
Moss's stepmother, Terrey Moss of
Lighthouse Point, said Kevin Moss was diagnosed several years ago, and had developed a noticeable tremor.
But he was not impaired, she said. He had made over 400 dives, here and in Hawaii. He dove with Pavan in the
Atlantic Ocean off
Boca Raton as recently as Thursday to check out new equipment, she said.
Terrey Moss said her stepson also worked with the
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research "to show that people with the disease can live a normal life."
She is confident that Parkinson's did not contribute to his death. "He was very fit," she said. "Nothing stood in his way."
Moss, Boone and three other friends from
Palm Beach County were in the Florida Keys on what was to be a 54th birthday celebration for one of the five, Mariann Radwan of
Highland Beach.
Radwan told investigators with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office that Moss ran into trouble, and she was sharing her air with him as they fought to drop his weights so they could rise to the surface.
Eventually, Radwan said, he pushed her away so that she could surface.
As she swam away, Radwan saw Boone trying to help Moss.
After Radwan returned to the dive boat, Capt. Dennis Leith of Tavernier said he searched for the lost divers for 15 minutes, then called the Coast Guard.
Also aboard the 25-foot Bayliner were Sherry Makis, 55, of
Boca Raton, and Alan Boyd, 52, of
Boynton Beach.
The search was called off about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The bodies of Moss and Boone were found at around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday near the spot they were last seen.
The cause of death will be determined following autopsies.
"This is really shocking to me," Pavan said on Monday when he learned of Moss's death. "He was experienced, he had very good gear. He is not going to make a stupid mistake."
Born in Worthing, England, Moss moved to South Florida when he was about 18, according to Terrey Moss.
"He lived his life in a fun way, the best way he could," said Terrey Moss.
In addition to his stepmother and father, Peter, Moss leaves a daughter, four brothers and two sisters. Services are pending.
mwclary@tribune.com
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South Florida Sun-Sentinel
in an OOA /descending moment.
