Crime & Safety
Free Diver Dies After Being Found Unconscious Off Reef
A 23-year-old diver has died after being found unconscious Saturday afternoon at Thompson Reef, an artificial reef off Pasco County.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 23-year-old diver has died after being found unconscious Saturday afternoon at Thompson Reef, an artificial reef off the shoreline of Pasco County.
The Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center was notified at 12:30 p.m. that a free diver has been found unconscious by a friend.
The Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a Station Sand Key 45-foot Response Boat arrived at 1:15 p.m. and continued CPR while transported the diver to Tampa General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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The Pasco County Sheriff's marine unit said a group of divers were out fishing about 30 miles offshore when the diver became unconscious for unknown reasons.
Because the incident happened in international waters, the FBI is the main investigating agency.
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Thompson Reef is one of three artificial reefs off the Pasco County shoreline created using surplus Army tanks.
The name of the diver has not been released.
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