Tourist, 39, dies diving
CITIZEN STAFF
A Tennessee man died diving offshore Key West Thursday, according to a press release from Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Deputy Becky Herrin.
Ollie Macon Smithwick, 39, of Cookville, Tenn., was on vacation with his wife, 10-month-old baby and two male friends, Herrin said in the release. The three men intended to dive the Vandenberg and spearfish on the wreck.
They set out Thursday morning, with Smithwick reportedly diving first and his two friends getting in the water 10 to 15 minutes later.
One friend headed toward the bow of the boat and the other toward the stern.
The friend at the stern "was startled when he spotted a large fish thrashing around near the side of the vessel," the report says.
He swam to the bow and told the other diver, and both went to the stern to see what looked like an amberjack, speared and thrashing.
They said they traced the line to the spear gun and found Smithwick, who was unresponsive. The two friends unsuccessfully tried to inflate his buoyancy compensator to get him to the surface, then returned to the boat and called 911, the report says.
The Coast Guard responded, along with a nearby dive boat. They pulled Smithwick aboard the Coast Guard vessel and began CPR en route to shore.
Paramedics met them and took Smithwick to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of his death. Major Crimes Detective Manuel Cuervo is assigned to investigate, Herrin said.
CITIZEN STAFF
A Tennessee man died diving offshore Key West Thursday, according to a press release from Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Deputy Becky Herrin.
Ollie Macon Smithwick, 39, of Cookville, Tenn., was on vacation with his wife, 10-month-old baby and two male friends, Herrin said in the release. The three men intended to dive the Vandenberg and spearfish on the wreck.
They set out Thursday morning, with Smithwick reportedly diving first and his two friends getting in the water 10 to 15 minutes later.
One friend headed toward the bow of the boat and the other toward the stern.
The friend at the stern "was startled when he spotted a large fish thrashing around near the side of the vessel," the report says.
He swam to the bow and told the other diver, and both went to the stern to see what looked like an amberjack, speared and thrashing.
They said they traced the line to the spear gun and found Smithwick, who was unresponsive. The two friends unsuccessfully tried to inflate his buoyancy compensator to get him to the surface, then returned to the boat and called 911, the report says.
The Coast Guard responded, along with a nearby dive boat. They pulled Smithwick aboard the Coast Guard vessel and began CPR en route to shore.
Paramedics met them and took Smithwick to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of his death. Major Crimes Detective Manuel Cuervo is assigned to investigate, Herrin said.