Decomposition indicated at Vortex by cadaver dogs
Source appears to be underwater
September 21, 2010 3:05 PM
JAY FELSBERG, Managing Editor
PONCE DE LEON Specially trained cadaver dogs were deployed at Vortex Springs early Monday morning and the dogs indicated the presence of decomposing material. The source of the decomposition appears to be underwater where a Tennessee man apparently was diving and could have drowned.
The search by the highly trained dogs was the most recent part of the hunt for missing diver Ben McDaniel of Tennessee. McDaniel, 30, was reported missing on Aug. 27 after not being seen for two days at the well-known diving site in western Holmes County.
The Tennessee native is believed to have attempted to work his way past a narrow restriction about 1,500 linear feet inside the cave at Vortex Springs. There are reports McDaniel was attempting to map the cave that is the scene of other diving accidents over the years.
If the source was above ground the dogs would have found it, said Capt. Harry Hamilton of the Holmes County Sheriffs Office. Hamilton said the dogs are from Tallahassee and are nationally certified for this kind of search. They could detect decomposition originating underwater as far as the back of the cave that has been the subject of intensive search.
Hamilton, who is coordinating the McDaniel investigation, said the cave has been thoroughly searched by divers up to that restriction. The grounds at Vortex Springs have also been thoroughly searched by HCSO and the Sheriffs Mounted Posse, Hamilton said. The dogs could not pinpoint an exact location, Hamilton said.
The most recent exploration of the cave was last weekend as divers went in about 400 feet, Hamilton said. Several nationally recognized cave divers and cave diving instructors have participated in the search inside the cave and have called the area around the last restriction extremely dangerous.
Hamilton said the next step is to deploy an underwater camera on a tether to explore the back of the cave and hopefully past the last restriction. He said arrangements are being made with a company that manufactures the cameras to have one brought to Vortex Springs. No date has been set.
chipleypaper.com/news/ponce-7225-cadaver-vortex
Source appears to be underwater
September 21, 2010 3:05 PM
JAY FELSBERG, Managing Editor
PONCE DE LEON Specially trained cadaver dogs were deployed at Vortex Springs early Monday morning and the dogs indicated the presence of decomposing material. The source of the decomposition appears to be underwater where a Tennessee man apparently was diving and could have drowned.
The search by the highly trained dogs was the most recent part of the hunt for missing diver Ben McDaniel of Tennessee. McDaniel, 30, was reported missing on Aug. 27 after not being seen for two days at the well-known diving site in western Holmes County.
The Tennessee native is believed to have attempted to work his way past a narrow restriction about 1,500 linear feet inside the cave at Vortex Springs. There are reports McDaniel was attempting to map the cave that is the scene of other diving accidents over the years.
If the source was above ground the dogs would have found it, said Capt. Harry Hamilton of the Holmes County Sheriffs Office. Hamilton said the dogs are from Tallahassee and are nationally certified for this kind of search. They could detect decomposition originating underwater as far as the back of the cave that has been the subject of intensive search.
Hamilton, who is coordinating the McDaniel investigation, said the cave has been thoroughly searched by divers up to that restriction. The grounds at Vortex Springs have also been thoroughly searched by HCSO and the Sheriffs Mounted Posse, Hamilton said. The dogs could not pinpoint an exact location, Hamilton said.
The most recent exploration of the cave was last weekend as divers went in about 400 feet, Hamilton said. Several nationally recognized cave divers and cave diving instructors have participated in the search inside the cave and have called the area around the last restriction extremely dangerous.
Hamilton said the next step is to deploy an underwater camera on a tether to explore the back of the cave and hopefully past the last restriction. He said arrangements are being made with a company that manufactures the cameras to have one brought to Vortex Springs. No date has been set.
chipleypaper.com/news/ponce-7225-cadaver-vortex