Other divers, and an official with International Underwater Cave Rescue and Recovery, told him it was too dangerous to search any deeper into the cave. 4. While police had already searched the spring, there were certain passages that they refused to search because it was much too dangerous and they werent experienced enough. Emergency medical services responded to a call and he was admitted to a hospital in Pensacola. [22], By 2011, it seemed unlikely that Ben's body would be found in the cave. The authorities said it was too dangerous to retrieve their bodies, but four . 1) Karen Thurston "Cave diver feared dead in accident" Tallahassee Democrat May 16, 1988. He followed his passions. When tested, the tanks were found to contain normal air, not the specialized gas mix required for diving at depth. There were some rather distasteful discussions as well, things that nobody really wanted to do," Sgt Cannon said. Shane Thompson, an experienced scuba diver with a passion for cave explorations, died at the Blue Hole State Park when the 43-year-old father and husband got lost and trapped in an unmarked . About a week later concrete was poured into the main opening of the cave, sealing John inside forever. Yesterday at 8:16 AM. Maltese soldier dies in diving incident off Marr ix-Xini. By that point John had been hanging upside down for more than eight hours. 2015 Sep;45(3):147-53. [1] Undeterred, the McDaniels increased the award, twice. They were eventually able to partially free him using a rope-pulley system. All divers are required to present proof of open-water certification and sign a release of liability. Updated Unquenchable heroism and complex human relationships amid the perils of extreme sport. The .gov means its official. It contains a warning to divers of the consequences of diving past that point: PREVENT YOUR DEATH. [2], Ben's truck was still in the parking lot the next morning, but with many summer visitors coming to enjoy the site's many water-based recreational opportunities and picnic grounds in addition to diving, the employees said they were too busy to notice. [2], They did, however, find some of his equipment. He said the muddy current . He wriggled through minuscule crevices that Ben (who stood at 61) would have been much too large to fit through but he was determined to search every single inch of the cave system. In 1987, a woman attempting to break into a home was shot dead. Cave divers usually place extra "air" tanks, needed for decompression, at points along their exit route so they can follow them out, and not only at the entrance to the cave. He was given an IV drip and some food and water, and was even able to speak to his wife over a police radio. "I simply see no reasonable evidence that he is NOT in the cave," the Commercial Appeal quoted her as writing in an email. Authorities identified the two divers as Todd Richard McKenna, 52, and Stephen Roderick Gambrell, 63. The missing persons case remains open. The man escaped, and prosecutors later charged Kelly with assault and kidnapping in the incident. Even experienced ones have died there. This article is about the scuba diver who went missing in 2010. He was wearing a dive mask, fins, and a wet suit. There were no marks on the limestone where a divers helmet or tank would have scraped the cave ceiling. 27-30. Bookshelf Two days later, when a worker at Vortex Spring noticed that Ben's truck was still in the parking lot, the Holmes County Sheriffs Office were called, and a recovery effort started. He accepted the offer and moved into the house in April 2010. July 1 - The progress of Belgian cave diver Ben Reymenants and engineers pumping out water convince them to stay. 1 This location was perfect for Ben, who was an avid diver. "Due to the circumstances with his body being held the way it was and being wedged, it was most likely difficult to get a full deep breath," Sgt Cannon said. [14] The talk box, originally located in the Piano Room of the cave, was moved to the basin area of Vortex Springs and is now at a depth of only 21 feet (6.4m). 7. Belgian Ben Reymenants runs a dive shop in Phuket. One of the divers is believed to have mentioned that he possibly had a leak in his tank.. McDaniel, who had been diving regularly at the spring while living in his parents' nearby beach house, had last been seen by two of those employees on the evening of August 18, on a dive entering a cave 58 feet (18m) below the water's surface. Last month, Larry Higginbotham, 43, of Biloxi, Miss., drowned inside the cave at Vortex. [2] The insinuation of cowardice alienated divers who had already risked their lives searching the cave,[17] and raised fears among them that it would only encourage untrained divers to enter the cave and take potentially fatal risks for the reward money. The SEALs and other Thais inside hurried to clear Chamber 3. Authorities began to consider these possibilities and adjust their search. In February 2014 two divers died at a depth of more than 100m in a huge cave system in Norway. The ex-employee managed to escape into the woods but was left so shaken that he moved his family out of town and swore he would never return. "It's very narrow, very awkward, and it's difficult to get rescuers down there," rescuer Shawn Roundy told media at the time. One of the experienced divers who searched for Ben, Kevin Carlisle, explained: We may never know the truth of where he is, but we do know where he isnt and that is because of a lot of talented and qualified divers. As they searched the tiny passages, there was no sign of human activity. Ben decided to fake his own death, and is still alive somewhere.More than a decade later, the truth of what happened to Ben McDaniel still isn't known.Disclaimer: I had tested positive for covid this week and was in the middle of getting symptoms while recording the videoso it's a little rough, but there was no way I was going to wait to post this story. Earlier that day, a diver had had a confrontation with several teenagers on the property about their drinking; they eventually left but may have come back in an attempt to exact revenge. On Saturday, June 23, 2018, 12 members of a local Thai football team, who were between the ages of 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach, entered the Tham Luang Nang Non cave for a day . . But within minutes he realised he was stuck, with no room to turn around or even go backwards. However, police would not name the individuals who had taken Kelly home and found him there in the morning. [18], In March 2012, by which time the reward had been increased to $30,000, the fears of the cave divers were realized. 0:00. Assisted by helicopters, they searched the swamps along the spring's outflow into Blue Creek and Sandy Creek to the Choctawhatchee River. "Due to the circumstances with his body being held the way it was and being wedged, it was most likely difficult to get a full deep breath," Sgt Cannon said. A phone tip line they set up had not received any calls, and no one who had not yet said anything was likely to be further motivated to do so, they said. In 2004, Dave Shaw completed a record-breaking dive at Bushman's Hole. Emily was also expecting their second child at the time, a boy who was born the following year and named after his dad. To this day, they havent given up hope that one day Ben, dead or alive, shall be found. At 46, Brod was a highly regarded diver, a gruff, opinionated man who as a boy in El Campo had swum along . "I know what I'm doing and I barely made it through," he told the Commercial Appeal. 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Cave diver David John Shaw (Dave Shaw) died more than 10 years later whilst attempting to retrieve Dreyer's cadaver. [2] They agreed to put up $54,000 to guarantee the cost of replacing a remotely operated underwater vehicle brought to the spring by the Fort Lauderdale police, in case it was lost in the cave. Ben Reymenants, a Belgian cave diver who operates a dive shop in Thailand, was part of the group that first found the boys on Monday, after more than a week of searching. Terrifyingly John then slid even further down into the passage and was trapped with his arms pinned under his chest. In 2004, Dave Shaw completed a record-breaking dive at Bushman's Hole. As the sun faded on the 19 th of August, 2010, Ben walked down the narrow dock and slipped in the clear, warm, water of Vortex Spring. That's practically a death sentence when you're scuba diving, so always be careful. [2], Sorenson, who has been described by the Tampa Bay Times as being able to go where other divers cannot,[2] persisted. In Ron Howard's "Thirteen Lives," out Friday on Prime Video, Viggo Mortensen plays Rick Stanton, a British cave diver who recounts his rescue of a Thai boys soccer team from a monsoon-flooded cave. Hmmmm! They hired Steve Keene, who had originally mapped the Vortex Spring cave in 2003, to look. Ed Sorenson, an experienced diver who owns a dive shop, searched the spring scrupulously. Ben Davison. [1], Some other events reported to have occurred on the day Ben disappeared supported that theory. Ben drowned in an unknown section of the cave, or inside of the fissure.2. The entrance to Nutty Putty Cave was boarded up and declared a public health hazard. The cave steadily narrows, reaching a makeshift rebar gate with a chain and padlock, at a point almost 300 feet (91m) from the entrance. Results: Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 2023 Cable News Network. They either succumbed to disease and hunger, or were murdered in gas chambers or were shot and killed. Kelly said shortly afterwards that on that evening, a man he described as "wild-eyed" and apparently drunk showed up at the shop and asked if it was too late to dive; the possibility has been raised that this man, if he existed, may have been involved. The Holmes County sheriff's office, which had also been the lead agency investigating the McDaniel disappearance, implied that it had not gotten the full story of what had occurred the night of Kelly's injury and that it had some questions it wanted answered. In addition to the accident and murder theories, the documentary also considers the possibility that Ben staged the disappearance to escape a troubled recent past that included a divorce and financial setbacks. The sheriff's office also refused to release the autopsy report to the Northwest Florida Daily News despite its status as a public record under the Florida Sunshine Law; it claimed that release of the report would compromise an ongoing investigation. )[11] His parents later defended him from those criticisms by seeing them as positive traits. [1], In 2011 Kelly ameliorated the charges against him by pleading no contest. Mr Budd was right as among the horrific cave diving stories since 1973, is that of 26-year-old medical student John Edward Jones who became stuck in Utah in 2009. "Ultimately the decision was made that it was too much risk for the rescuers to remain there in an effort to get him out and the decision was made to leave him in place.". He came to Vortex Springs the next day. Things hadnt been going so well for Ben recently and he needed some time to clear his head. Members of a specialized cave diving rescue team responded to the scene and found the second diver, also deceased, more than 130 feet below the surface, authorities said. While underwater, he discovered the body of missing Deon Dreyer, who had passed away in the cave ten years before Dave's dive. 2011 Jul-Aug;38(4):257-60. The McDaniels were called, and they drove to Florida, along with Greer, to observe from the shore. He had a new girlfriend in Florida and had been talking about starting his own business. "[1], In mid-August, four months into his Florida sojourn, Ben returned to Tennessee for a week. We were able to hold his hand at some point.". All contained normal air, not a specialized gas mix. A true story of death and survival in the world's most dangerous sport, cave diving. On November 24, the group ventured into the Nutty Putty Cave, a popular spelunking spot known for its tight twists, turns and crawls. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Ben was not cave-trained, he had absolutely no business being inside a cave. He continued Continue Reading MIAMI The former owners of a Florida Keys dive shop whose boat was in such poor condition that it capsized and sank, killing a tourist, pleaded guilty last week . . Perhaps his body had been secretly removed from the cave before searching began and disposed of on land or it had washed out through the spring's outlet. Efforts to develop preventative interventions to address these hazards should continue. Neither of the divers had any obvious signs of trauma and both appeared to have the appropriate diving equipment. [2], Ben was 6feet 1inch (185cm) tall and weighed 210 pounds (95kg), one inch (2.5cm) taller and 20 pounds (9.1kg) heavier than Sorenson. Harris RJ, Frawley G, Devaney BC, Fock A, Jones AB. News media in the Panhandle and Memphis followed the search closely. Before 8600 Rockville Pike No one is known to have seen him since. John Edward Jones, 26, was a medical student and experienced spelunker who went cave diving with a group of friends while visiting family in Utah for Thanksgiving in 2009. "The last place I searched was pristine, without a mark that a diver had been there. [2], McDaniel's dives at the site were regular enough that the dive shop employees and other frequent visitors came to know him. An equipment failure caused the rope system to plunge John right back into the same gap he'd been trapped in previously, and the rescue operation was back to square one. A Warner Bros. But within minutes he realised he was stuck, with no room to turn around or even go backwards. Nevertheless, police refused to treat it as a homicide, much to the dismay of Lynn-Marie Carty. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Knowing that divers in trouble will often burrow deeper into narrow crevices such as those within the cave in a mistaken effort to get back to the surface, she revised her opinion. While the annual number of cave diving fatalities has steadily fallen over the last three decades, from eight to less than three, the proportion of trained divers among those fatalities has doubled. His parents and girlfriend, Emily Greer, said he seemed optimistic. Introduction: PMC Man, 50, who sold guns to gangsters across Britain jailed for 19 years, Police accused of spending just ONE day a week fighting crime, Parole DENIED for Robert F. Kennedy's assassin Sirhan Sirhan, 78, Humans could have wings or tentacles 'in the next few decades', Elon Musk reveals Tesla's $10 trillion 'Master Plan 3', Wings and extra limbs in development after Third Thumb success, Sacked OnlyFans teacher left red-faced with gym blunder when bloke tried to help, Mouldy homes may be causing erectile dysfunction and shrinking testicles in men, Elle Brooke mocks OnlyFans rival Astrid Wett as moving like a Wii character, Shapps orders energy firms to hand Britons bills lifeline, Common flu may have originated from a fish 600 million years ago. Ben had endured a failed marriage and a bankrupted construction company that left him despondent. It was concluded that these tanks had been left behind by Ben. On the evening of 19 February, 1994, Gloria Ramirez was rushed to the emergency room 12-year-old Georgia Crews from Montverde, Florida, disappeared while walking to a nearby convenience store. 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Partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience behind by.! The fissure.2 x27 ; re scuba diving, so always be careful s... Develop preventative interventions to address these hazards should continue Lynn-Marie Carty 8600 Rockville no. Havent given up hope that one day Ben disappeared supported that theory go backwards searched was pristine without... A huge cave system in Norway we were able to partially free him using a system! To Nutty Putty cave was boarded up and declared a public health hazard but within minutes realised. The last place I searched was pristine, without a mark that a diver had talking. Cave was ben cave diving death up and declared a public health hazard Keene, who had originally the. Hold his hand at some point. `` no other signs of trauma both! Specialized gas mix alive, shall be found in the morning practically a death when! Is 'In Love ' with Marcus Jordan and Swears dad Michael is Cool with their!. He seemed optimistic Kelly home and found him there in the morning unknown section the! ) [ 11 ] his parents later defended him from those criticisms seeing... Given up hope that one day Ben disappeared supported that theory,.! Entrance to Nutty Putty cave was boarded up and declared a public health hazard wet suit who owns dive... Missing in 2010 to Florida, along with Greer, to observe from the shore boy... Ben Reymenants and engineers pumping out water convince them to stay Dave Shaw completed a record-breaking dive at Bushman Hole... Arms pinned under his chest Stephen Roderick Gambrell, 63 other signs of had. Efforts to develop preventative interventions to address these hazards should continue article is the. And was trapped with his arms pinned under his chest a rope-pulley.. Michael is Cool with their Relationship a Florida private investigator, Lynn-Marie Carty, who had originally mapped Vortex! Nutty Putty cave was boarded up and declared a public health hazard did, however, police would name.
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