cave fatality

[BladesRobinson]

Accident Kills Charlottesville Cave Diver
February 16, 2007

A mysterious accident has claimed the life of a Charlottesville cave diver.

Cave diving is a dangerous and extreme sport, but those who knew Rxx Sxxxxxx say he was good at it and died doing what he loved.

“When I first heard it I thought it was a joke because I can't believe he was a great guy, [a] good diver,” said friend and fellow diver Lxxxx Mxxxxxxx.

In fact, 53-year-old Rxx Sxxxxxx was one of the greatest cave divers around. So when news hit, other divers couldn't understand how he could have died enjoying the sport.

“Very brave, very safety conscious, and Rxx always kept his gear up to date,” said Mxxxxxxx.

Yet investigators in Lafayette County Florida believe Rxx had complications with his equipment, that on his final dive he was no deeper than 28 feet below the water's surface when he tragically drowned.

Rxx's body was recovered in the Suwannee River Valley caves in North Central Florida Thursday. The sheriff's department is investigating the death, but believes it was an accident.

“We lost one hell of a man, a real great explorer. He goes to places no one can get to his size and slip through a crack and finds virgin passage in a heart beat. The guy was great, a great diver,” said Mxxxxxxx.

Rxx reportedly dove inside that same cave as many as 40 times before his fated dive. Investigators are waiting on autopsy results to confirm the cause of his death.


FULL STORY AT:
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/5903341.html

 

[BladesRobinson]

To learn more about the background of the victim, please visit...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="Ron+Simmons"+cave+diver

 

[Jeff Toorish]

Condolances to family and friends.

For those who don't know, he invented the ropewalker climbing system used by some cave divers.

Jeff

 

[Dive-aholic]

From CDF:

Celebration of the Life of Ron Simmons
Allen Mill Pond Spring
Sunday, February 18, 2007
3:00 p.m. Gathering of Friends
4:00 p.m. Ceremony of Remembrance

You are invited to join the cave diving community and friends of Ron Simmons to celebrate his life and accomplishments. The gathering and short ceremony will be held at Allen Mill Pond Spring in the beautiful wooded area by the spring run.

Ron was a follower of the Buddist faith, and to respect those traditions we will encourage the community to come together and share stories and positive experiences from their life with Ron.

Please dress warm and casual with good shoes to enjoy the stunning natural surroundings at this pristine spring. A bonfire will follow the ceremony, so a lawn chair would be appropriate. There are no facilities in the area of the spring.

Please contact Terri and Wes Skiles or Jill Heinerth for details or questions.



Directions: From downtown Mayo, Florida travel northwest on Highway 27 for approximately 5 miles. Turn right at County Road 251 B where you will see a sign directing you towards Lafayette Blue Spring. Travel north for approximately 5 miles and go past the main entrance to Allen Mill Pond recreation area. Just north of the main entrance the road curves left but you will see a dirt road that continues due north. Stop at that junction and park on the side of the road. Follow the signs and ribbons down to the spring.


Jill Heinerth
Heinerth Productions Inc.
High Springs, Fl 32643