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A 71-year-old diver is useless after he was discovered on the underside of the ocean close to a Florida shipwreck
“Foul play doesn’t seem like an element within the incident,” the Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned
An investigation into his demise is ongoing
A 71-year-old man was discovered on the ocean flooring and later pronounced useless after embarking on a dive to a Florida shipwreck, officers mentioned.
On Friday, March 13, Lonnie Lee Higgins participated in a dive on the shipwreck Eagle, situated off the coast of Islamorada, a neighborhood of six islands within the Florida Keys, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement. The Columbia, Mo. native was later discovered on the backside of the ocean by industrial dive staff, who situated him at a depth of about 110 ft.
They commenced CPR, which members of the U.S. Coast Guard took over after they arrived on the scene. Higgins was transported to a hospital lower than 10 miles away in Tavernier, the place he was pronounced useless, officers mentioned.
“Foul play doesn’t seem like an element within the incident,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
An investigation is ongoing. A spokesperson for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace had no additional data so as to add, and the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply when contacted by PEOPLE.
In August 2020, Higgins’ companion, Arlene Higgins, shared a birthday tribute alongside a photograph of the pair diving collectively.
“Blissful birthday to my greatest good friend on earth,” Arlene wrote. “Lonnie Higgins glad you might be having fun with your retirement. Want you could possibly go do your favourite sport, diving quickly.”
She didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for remark.
Greater than 40 years in the past, the Eagle was purposefully sunk to create a man-made reef, in line with NOAA. The 287-foot vessel was first launched in Holland in 1962 as a standard hull freighter, and underwent many homeowners and identify adjustments over the following 20 years.
The Abroad Freeway close to Islamorada, Fla.
Credit score: Getty
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In October 1985, the freighter caught hearth off the coast of Miami, after which the Florida Keys Synthetic Reef Affiliation and a non-public citizen bought the destroyed ship to create a man-made reef.
Because it sank, the underwater vessel has attracted vacationers who need to dive and see the “notable” remnant of maritime historical past, in line with the company.
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