A 28-year-old man from Alberta, Canada was pronounced dead after being discovered unconscious while free diving in waters off Key West, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
According to Monroe County Sheriff’s spokesperson Adam Linhardt, Pieter Lodewikus Botha was spearfishing with a group of people from a private boat near the Western Dry Rocks area around 4 p.m. Tuesday when he was found unresponsive on the sea floor.
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Authorities said Botha was taken by paramedics to the Opal Key West Resort & Marina and was then transported to the Lower Keys Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 5:30 p.m.
Linhardt confirmed foul play is not believed to be a factor in the incident.
Autopsy results are pending at this time.