Tourist dies in Key Largo 11-13-09

[deeper thoughts]

Two tourists die diving the Keys



It’s now two tourists who died Friday while diving Florida Keys waters.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday said ,,,,,,, 59, of Elkin, N.C., died Friday afternoon at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier. That followed the death earlier in the day of ..........., 51, of Cypress, Texas.

......... was on a commercial dive trip on board the Amoray Diver Friday at Molasses Reef off Key Largo. She reportedly surfaced near another dive vessel, the Cheeca View from Horizon Divers, and indicated she was in distress.

That dive vessel pulled her on board and the crew reportedly gave her oxygen and headed toward shore, calling for help while in route. When Deputy Robert Dosh responded to the Port Largo subdivision, he met the boat and saw ,,,,,,,,, who was reportedly conscious and breathing.

Paramedics also met the vessel and transported ,,,,,,, to Mariners, where she later died.

Also Friday, ,,,,,,, died while diving the Vandenberg wreck off Key West.

He flew into Miami Thursday with a group of people on an organized dive trip. They were bused down to Key West and were on their first dive of the day aboard a commercial dive vessel out of Robbie's Marina.

The victim was diving on the Vandenberg with two instructors and was down for about 20 minutes. They were at a depth of about 95 feet at 12:10 p.m. when he reportedly began having trouble for an unknown reason. The two men with him began helping him to the surface.

About 25 feet from the surface, ,,,,,,, reportedly stopped breathing. They rushed him the rest of the way to the surface.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was begun and he was brought in to shore. Paramedics continued CPR to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Autopsies on both victims are planned.

 

[Cave Diver]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

This thread is for discussion of the accident. Condolences may be posted here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/passings/312159-johnsie-hudspeth-dies-key-largo.html

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Known facts:

• Johnsie Hudspeth, 59 y/o female of Elkin, NC died Friday at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier
• Vicitm was diving on board the Amory Diver at Molasses Reef off Key Largo
• She reportedly surfaced in distress near the dive boat Cheeca, from Horizon Divers.
• Victim pulled on board, where she was given O2 and the boat headed for shore and called for help.
• Deputy Robert Dosh responded and met the boat at the Port Largo subdivision
• Victim was reported conscious and breathign at this time.
• Paramedics also met the boat and transported victim to Mariners Hospital where she later died.
• Autopsy is planned.
  

 

[Cave Diver]

Two tourists die diving the Keys

It’s now two tourists who died Friday while diving Florida Keys waters.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday said Johnsie Hudspeth, 59, of Elkin, N.C., died Friday afternoon at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier. That followed the death earlier in the day of Richard McCoy Jr., 51, of Cypress, Texas.

Hudspeth was on a commercial dive trip on board the Amoray Diver Friday at Molasses Reef off Key Largo. She reportedly surfaced near another dive vessel, the Cheeca View from Horizon Divers, and indicated she was in distress.

That dive vessel pulled her on board and the crew reportedly gave her oxygen and headed toward shore, calling for help while in route. When Deputy Robert Dosh responded to the Port Largo subdivision, he met the boat and saw Hudspeth, who was reportedly conscious and breathing.

Paramedics also met the vessel and transported Hudspeth to Mariners, where she later died.

Also Friday, McCoy died while diving the Vandenberg wreck off Key West.

He flew into Miami Thursday with a group of people on an organized dive trip. They were bused down to Key West and were on their first dive of the day aboard a commercial dive vessel out of Robbie's Marina.

The victim was diving on the Vandenberg with two instructors and was down for about 20 minutes. They were at a depth of about 95 feet at 12:10 p.m. when he reportedly began having trouble for an unknown reason. The two men with him began helping him to the surface.

About 25 feet from the surface, McCoy reportedly stopped breathing. They rushed him the rest of the way to the surface.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was begun and he was brought in to shore. Paramedics continued CPR to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Autopsies on both victims are planned.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Damn, that two from Amy's boat close together. Where was her dive buddy? Whenever I dove off Amy's boats they made sure everyone had buddy when they went in. Once under water though....
What were conditions like on the reef? I will be interested in the diver's level of training as well.

 

[101recon]

I just spoke with a close personal friend of Johnsie Hudspeth.She assures me that this is an accurate account of what happened and asked me to post it here.


?It?s just the saddest thing?

Content from above link added to post by [user]Cave Diver[/user]

Elkin has lost one of its most well-known community and business leaders.

Johnsie Hudspeth, 59, a longtime Elkin resident, broker and owner of Century 21 Hudspeth Properties passed away Friday evening in an apparent diving related accident.

Hudspeth, an accomplished diver, was on a commercial dive with a certified dive shop on board the Amoray Diver Friday at Molasses Reef off Key Largo, Fla. According to Dana Shepherd, Hudspeth's sister, Hudspeth's dive buddy communicated through hand signals his need to surface. After returning a "thumbs up", her buddy began his ascent, with Hudspeth following. When surfacing, Hudspeth's dive buddy returned to the boat they were on, while she surfaced near another dive vessel, the Cheeca View from Horizon Divers, and indicated she was in distress.

"Johnsie was conscious and talking when she made her way to the boat," Shepherd said. "Apparently she had had some distress on her way up, but she was able to get to one of the three boats in the area. The personnel on the boat gave her oxygen and radioed for help. They took her to the dock nearest to the hospital and she was met by a Monroe County (Fla.) deputy and transferred to the hospital by emergency medical services."

Hudspeth arrived at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, Fla. at approximately 6 p.m. Friday evening.

"She was diving in an area that is very popular with divers," Shepherd said.

Shepherd confirmed that while awaiting transfer to a hospital in Miami, Hudspeth suffered an apparent cardiac arrest and passed away. An autopsy will be performed to determine Hudspeth’s cause of death. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but will be handled by Elkin Funeral Service. Hudspeth and partner Gloria Lumpkin were on vacation trip in the Florida Keys.

Remainder of article will be posted in Passings Forum

© elkintribune.com 2009

 

[Garrobo]

Jim Lap: Is that two on Amoray or reporting the same incident twice?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

No there was one on the Amoray Diver a couple weeks ago. Male. 67 yrs old in October.

 

[Garrobo]

I was diving with Amoray a couple months ago planting Staghorn coral. Seemed like a pretty good outfit. These heart attacks underwater have nothing to do with the operator or boat employees. Hate to see this stuff. People should be in decent physical shape to be diving although it usually isn't that strenuous unless you get into a stiff current. I was talking to the owner of the motel where I stay on Islamorada and she said that there is estimated to be about 30,000 people show up for Mini Lobster and that about six of them die every year. Mostly because they only dive once a year and are in bad physical condition.Too bad. This sort of stuff will lead to scuba being regulated and policed some day in the future.

 

[AfterDark]

This sort of stuff will lead to scuba being regulated and policed some day in the future.

Much truth here Garrobo. Way too much truth. I read the article about Johnsie Hudspeth darn shame, sounds like a nice lady. No doubt, diving is not shuffle board.
Geezers like me need to be in shape to dive, especially at depths approaching 100fsw.
Does anyone know of any studies done on diving with hypertension or reduced artery function because of buildup on the inner walls? I wonder if squeezing arteries at depth that are already not 100% could cause some of these cardiac events while diving? Sure has been quite a few lately, and mostly people >45 that may indeed have had such a condition. Just a thought, any doctors out there?

 

[DennisS]

It's not just diving, people die of heart attacks on golf courses, tennis courts, jogging and in their beds. The dive population is aging, there will continue to be deaths because of heart attacks. A lot of times it comes down to quit diving or accept the risks. Some people quit, some accept the risks.