Diver dies in Key Largo

[pafindr]

Maryville man dies while scuba diving in Florida Knoxville News Sentinel

A Maryville, TN man died after his wife and scuba-diving partner reported he became unconscious shortly after entering the water Tuesday afternoon to explore a sunken ship in a popular diving spot, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said today.

An autopsy has been ordered by the Monroe County, Fla., Sheriff's Office to determine what killed 67-year-old Larry Reeves.

Reeves and his wife were passengers on the commercial dive vessel Amoray and diving to the Benwood wreck site, Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Matthew Meinhold said.

The bow of the Benwood, which sank in 1942, is submerged in 25 feet of water in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Another commercial dive vessel, the Coral Princess I, was nearby, and the unconscious Reeves was brought on board, Meinhold said. Off-duty Army and Navy medical personnel tried CPR for about 20 minutes but there were no signs of life, he said.

The dive boats were escorted by a Coast Guard crew to the Port Largo Marina, where marine casualty investigators and Monroe County Sheriff's deputies began their investigation.

Coast Guard members from the Station Islamorada responded about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to a call from the Coral Princess I.

 

[mike_s]

here's a couple other stories on it.



http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1293020.html

Tennessee man dies scuba diving off Florida coast
The Associated Press

KEY LARGO, Fla. -- A 67-year-old Tennessee man has died scuba diving off Key Largo.

Shortly after arriving at the scene Tuesday, paramedics pronounced ***** ******* ******* dead.

Witnesses said the Maryville, Tenn., man had drifted away from the Amoray Diver. He was found floating face-down by a commercial dive boat being used for Army Ranger training.

The Rangers pulled ******** from the water and performed CPR, but were unable to revive him.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

from http://cbs4.com/local/scuba.diving.benwood.2.1261892.html

Tourist Dies Scuba Diving Off Key Largo
KEY LARGO (CBS4) ―

A tourist for Tennessee died Tuesday while scuba diving off Key Largo.

****** *******, 67, who had chartered a spot on the Amoray dive boat, was scuba diving on the wreck of the Benwood when he drifted away from the group.

Around 2:30 p.m. he was found floating face-down by the crew on board the Coral Princess I. Off duty Army and Navy medical personnel who were onboard the boat administered CPR to ******* during the 20 minute trip to shore, but they were unable to revive him.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thnx for the added info

 

[divengolf]

FWIW I was in Key Largo last week and dove Thursday through Saturday AM. On Thursday AM we dove two sites on Molassas and the seas were 4-5 feet. On Thurs. the wind was about 15-20 kts and out of the east. The crew said that the seas were much rougher earlier in the week. I understand that a few diveops elected not to dive early in the week.

I have no idea if this contributed to this incident, but we all know how difficult it is to see a diver on the surface in rough seas, esp. without a SMB.

My condolences to the family.

 

[Cave Diver]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Condolences only posts have been split to this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/passings/309690-split-diver-dies-key-largo.html

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[Garrobo]

CaveDiver: Thank you, thank you, thank you.thank you.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Any word on the autopsy results? No I am not ghoul. I am seriously interested in analyzing these types of accidents and using the info for my own educational benefit as well as that of my students.

 

[Garrobo]

JimLap: I stopped at the fire station on Islamorada Thursday to BS with a couple firemen. (It's next door to the library where I went to print out my boarding passes.) We got talking about some of the runs these guy go on and the subject of this diver who died off Key Largo came up. One of them made the statement that it was a heart attack. I didn't ask if he could substantiate the comment but he made the statement in such a matter-of-fact fashion that I figured that he knew what he was talking about.

 

[Speargirl]

A tourist for Tennessee died Tuesday while scuba diving off Key Largo.

****** *******, 67, who had chartered a spot on the Amoray dive boat, was scuba diving on the wreck of the Benwood when he drifted away from the group.

Around 2:30 p.m. he was found floating face-down by the crew on board the Coral Princess I. Off duty Army and Navy medical personnel who were onboard the boat administered CPR to ******* during the 20 minute trip to shore, but they were unable to revive him.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death


To confirm and lay this to rest. This would be the true version. The Army and Navy were using our boat to do a bit of recon and underwater skills that day. They came equiped with a mini ER if you will. Our Captain and Crew as well as these trained professionals did everything possible to save this man.
Becka

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Becka,Thanks for your efforts and thanks Garrobo for the info. Do you know if he was diving with an assigned buddy or just hooked up with someone on the boat? I have dove with Amy and her outfit and know they try to buddy people up but once you hit the water it can be every man for themselves if it is not a good fit buddy wise. I make it clear that if you are going to buddy with me there are certain things that we need to get clear. It is also for professional reasons I ask as I just completed a paper on the breakdown of the buddy system and it's consequences when it happens.