Key Largo Death

[cappyjon431]

I just read about a diver who died on Elbow Reef in Key Largo. He was 57, and was in twenty feet of water. Details have been sketchy but I was hoping someone out there had more details.

This was the article I read:
WSVN-TV - Officials: Texas man dies while diving off Fla.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I heard it over the vhf radio . The seas were pretty ugly yesterday.

Prayers to the family.

 

[DandyDon]

From Texas man dies diving off Key Largo

A Rockwall, Texas, man died while diving off of Key Largo Wednesday, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas Pickett, 57, was out at Elbow Reef on a dive vessel operated by the Silent World Dive Center at mile marker 103.2 in Key Largo.

Witnesses told Deputy Derek Paul that Pickett was diving around 20 feet down. His dive buddy said he didn't appear to have trouble during the dive, but others say Pickett surfaced and began to have trouble, according to Deputy Becky Herrin.

He was pulled into the boat, unconscious. He quit breathing so the boat crew began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He was brought to shore at Garden Cove Drive at mile marker 106 and met by shoreside paramedics.

Pickett was taken to Mariners Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.