On Wednesday, June 22, two dead divers were found in Buford Springs Cave near Tampa, Florida.
One of the divers was found about 40 meters below the surface, while the other floated with his face facing the water, local police report.
It was a youth gang, two aged 15 and one aged 17, who alerted the police.
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According to the local newspaper Tampa Bay Times, it was the man who floated in the water surface that caused the young people to sound the alarm. At first the young people thought he was lying there to look for the other diver, but when they discovered that no air bubbles came up from the source, they jumped into the water to check his condition.
When the boys approached the diver, they quickly noticed that he was unconscious. They tried to take him ashore, but it was too heavy. At 12.20, they called the emergency number to call for help.
When the emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after, rescue divers jumped into the water to help the young people, reports CBS.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
MOVED OUT: The emergency services rushed to Buford Springs to pick up the men who had drowned. Photo: Hernando County Police
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A specially trained diving team assisted in the rescue operation by retrieving the man who was 40 meters below the water surface.
Suspected leak
According to the young people, the divers had been in the water several rounds. Before the last trip, the divers must have discussed whether they had enough oxygen to complete the next round. One of the men suspected that he had had a leak in the tank the last time they were in the water, but they still took the chance.
The cave is described as a demanding terrain to dive in. Although the landscape may look idyllic, there is little room for error, according to a guide to the area.
Unknown cause of death
The divers have been identified as two men in their 50s and 60s. The families have been informed of the deaths.
The causes of death are not yet known, but an investigation has been launched to find out, among other things, whether there may have been an equipment fault.
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– None of the divers showed clear signs of trauma, and that it appears that they had proper diving equipment. However, it is unknown if all the equipment worked as it should, the police say in a statement.
As part of the further investigation, the bodies will be autopsied to clarify the cause of death.