Authorities say a 53-year-old man died while diving in a popular underwater network of caves in Florida.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office says Davin Brannon was found dead Saturday at the Eagle’s Nest cave-diving site in Weeki Wachee.
The sheriff’s office says deputies and paramedics responded to reports of a diver in distress shortly after noon, and found Brannon dead when they arrived.
Victim: Experienced diver Davin Brannon, 53, was found dead on Saturday at the Eagle’s Nest cave-diving site in Weeki Wachee
Popular spot: 12 people have died at the Eagle’s Nest cave-diving site since 1981, as certain areas are deeper and more dangerous than others
Sheriff’s spokesman Michael Terry told WTSP-TV that Brannon, a certified diver, and a friend were barely inside the caves when he experienced a ‘medical episode’.
‘They weren’t planning to explore any deeper than the first room of the cave when the incident occurred,’ he said.
‘We don’t know if he simply drowned or if he had a heart attack, it’s hard to tell at this point.
‘There are signs up above that tell you the dangers of going into the caves.
‘There’s nothing in this cave worth dying for.’
Medical episode: It is believed Brannon died of a heart attack rather than drowning. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death
An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Brannon is the 12th person to have died while diving in the caves at Eagle’s Nest since 1981.
Some of the underwater passages are more than 300 feet deep and anyone who dives this far need multiple tanks and a special mix of gas and compressed air.
A friend of Brannon’s, Gregg Bonert, who was with Brannon at Eagle’s Nest on Saturday, said this tragedy had nothing to do with lack of experience or preparation.
‘This was a fairly simple technical dive within his capacity. Something just went wrong,’ he said.