Ohio Man Dies Diving Off Key Largo

Man dies in Florida Keys while diving offshore: Authorities

Authorities are investigating after the head of Ohio's state crime lab died while diving offshore of Key Largo Wednesday.

Ronald Dye, 56, was diving off a commercial dive boat at the Benwood Wreck site about six miles offshore from Key Largo when he became unresponsive, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.

Dye had gone down with a dive buddy but they surfaced 25 minutes later. The dive buddy told deputies they surfaced because Dye was low on air and had indicated something was wrong but didn't tell him what it was.

A mate on the boat went into the water with a rescue buoy and brought both men back to the boat, but Dye was unresponsive. The mate began CPR as the boat went back to the dock.

Dye was taken to Mariner's Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Dye, of Grove City, Ohio, has led the Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab for over a year and was on its new dive team, the Ohio Attorney General's Office said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death and detectives are investigating the case.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us