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Topics: US News, Environment
Brenna Cooper
The body of a scuba diver has been recovered from a notorious area of a US cave system.
Police were called to Twin Caves system near Marianna, Florida on Tuesday (18 March) after a group of divers failed to surface from a trip into the underwater labyrinth.
Two members of the group were rescued by experienced divers, however the body of the third diver, who has not been named, was recovered from the cave system.
The diver's death was confirmed by the local Sheriff's office, who thanked Jackson County Fire & Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the staff at Cave Adventures for assisting with the rescue.
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"Please keep the families of the divers in your thoughts and prayers," Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield added in the statement.
Concerns for the diver's welfare was first raised by Mehdi Zinetti, diving instructor and manager of Cave Adventures Training, who went into the cave system after the trio failed to return.
Zinetti then contacted Edd Sorenson, an expert cave diver who has assisted in numerous recovery operations, for assistance.
Praising Zinetti for his bravery in assisting with the rescue operation, Sorenson told local outlet WMBB News 13 that the intricate nature of the cave system meant the divers could have returned safely without being seen. However this wasn't the case.
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"So he has to do everything by feel. And he found the victim and he made notes of what he could based on his training. And then he brought the victim out," he explained.
Sorenson added (via Mailonline) that the missing diver had been recovered by time he made it to the scene and that officials had attempted to administer CPR, however nothing could be done to save the man.
The coroner is currently working to determine the cause of the man's death.
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Located at the bottom of popular swimming location Merritt's Mill Pond, Blue Springs Recreation Area the caves are often visited by divers and reach up to 3,000ft underground.
According to Cave Adventures, the conditions of the two caves favoured due to the lack of vegetation and clear water, however, the site notes the location isn't suitable for 'nervous' divers due to its tight spaces.
The site adds that the tunnels are a 'low flow cave' which means they are at risk of becoming blocked with silt.