A 43-year-old tourist from India died Wednesday after going into distress while scuba diving at Molasses Reef off Key Largo, authorities said. Fellow divers and the crew of a commercial dive boat pulled him to the surface and began CPR before paramedics took him to a hospital in Tavernier. Monroe County detectives have requested an autopsy and say they do not suspect foul play.
According to the Miami Herald, the man was identified as Abhinav Lamba and the incident happened around 11 a.m. The Herald reports the dive-boat crew spotted him in distress, brought him aboard and immediately started lifesaving efforts before paramedics transported him to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, where he was later pronounced dead.
Molasses Reef Bustling At Protected Dive Hotspot
Molasses Reef sits southeast of Key Largo inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and ranks among the busiest dive and snorkel sites in the Upper Keys. The reef falls within a Sanctuary Preservation Area where fishing and collecting are prohibited and mooring buoys are used to protect coral, according to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Rescue Effort And Emergency Care
Commercial dive crews and local first responders continued CPR on the vessel before transferring Lamba to shore, authorities said. From there, he was taken to Mariners Hospital and later pronounced dead.
Mariners Hospital in Tavernier operates a civilian hyperbaric chamber and has handled prior diving emergencies in the Upper Keys, according to reporting by Keys Weekly.
Investigation And Next Steps
Monroe County investigators have opened an inquiry and requested an autopsy to determine the cause of death, officials told reporters. Authorities say there is no indication of criminal activity, and they plan to release more details after medical examiners complete their review.
