Officials: Boat hits, kills Port Orange man snorkeling in Florida Keys

Patricio G. Balona, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read
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A Port Orange man snorkeling in the Florida Keys last week was hit and killed, possibly by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boat, officials said.

"Due to the FWC vessel in proximity at the time and location the accident may have occurred, the FWC has requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conduct an independent investigation of the incident to ensure complete transparency," stated FWC spokesman Rob Klepper in a news release provided to The News-Journal on Monday.

FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said Monday that she could not release any information on the incident because it is an active investigation but did confirm that the state law enforcement agency was asked by FWC to investigate the incident.

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Klepper said the accident occurred on July 25.

An FWC officer was on water patrol checking two vessels during lobster sport season near Stock Island on the gulf side of Key Haven, when he was informed that a snorkeler had not surfaced, Klepper said.

Additional FWC boats and aircraft and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the area to conduct a search.

After several hours, dive teams from FWC and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office recovered the body of the 27-year-old Port Orange man, Klepper said.

Preliminary information indicates the victim died of head trauma from a possible vessel strike. An FWC boat was near scene at the time the accident may have occurred, Klepper said.

"This is an active and ongoing boating accident investigation," Klepper stated in the news release. "All of us at the FWC extend our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of the victim during this time."

Officials say the victim is not being identified due to the ongoing investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Port Orange man dies in boating accident in Florida Keys