Reposted sans names from
here
I've have been receiving numerous calls from friends all over NC and VA including Kim, the deceased's wife, advising me that my dearest friend and a professional member of our site, gave his life today doing what he loved most.
He was the head DM on the DiverDown out of Morehead City, a position he has held for over a decade with the same boat captain, boat and fellow crew. The Graveyard of the Atlantic had it's share of current today and one of the divers apparently was swept away from the boat and in distress. He jumped in to save him and was able to get the diver back onto the boat. However when the boat captain and crew turned back around to get him back on the boat he had slipped behind the boat unresponsive. When they retrieved him he was blue and despite working on him for over two hours, he could not be revived. We won't know the official cause of death until tomorrow but it is believed that he may of had a heart attack which would be the only thing that made any sense as I personally know he is one of the strongest swimmers I know and has successfully rescued MANY divers under his extremely capable and ever viligent watch. He has been a long time supporter of my other dive charter business as well as my current one and always personally arranged to be our private divemaster whenever we were scheduled on the boat. He was our DiveMaster on our 4th of July trip and as usual in his normal form...he handled matters with a flawless precision, too infrequently seen these days. He always used to assure me 'no one will be hurt or lost on MY watch' and he was right.
He has never lost a diver...and in true form...he never will.
How I will bear the loss of this near and dear friend I am not sure. While I may continue to function a very intimate part of me has also died today. This man personally saved my life about 7 years ago and I've never felt that I was able to properly thank him. He'd laugh and say that our groups always tipped the best so that was thanks enough! He was like that...fun, dry humor, yet serious as a heart attack...when it came to his 'job' as a DM.
Despite only being 47 leaves behind several wonderful children, a couple of adorable grandchildren, his mother and a lovely wife Kim of only 4 years. I can only imagine the pain that they are going thru and the slim consolation that the man they loved died doing what he loved the most...diving and helping others.
Please include him in your prayers and thoughts today as well as his family so that they will find peace in this darkness. And please keep in mind that while we all love this sport and fortunately incidents such as today are rare...we are not immortal and even the best trogen horses can be stopped suddenly...way too suddenly.
I am devestated and overcome with saddness and grief at the injustice of losing such a good man, loving father, dear husband and beloved friend. Please forgive me for my rambling...but I feel I need to reach out, cry, and vent at the horrible injustice of it all. It is just not fair to lose such a good person, a great diver and one of my best friends in the world.
Know that I love you and you will always be in my heart....Kamala