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A missing diver has been found deceased after three people went missing on an excursion in Florida.
Earlier this week on Tuesday (March 18), the Jackson County Sheriff's Office was contacted after divers who were out exploring Twin Caves at the bottom of Merritt Mill Pond in Marianna, Florida hadn't returned at the expected time from their trip.
Jackson County Sheriff's Office took to Facebook to share a statement on March 18, which reads: "On Tuesday, March 18, around 1:15 p.m., a call for service was received notifying the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office of overdue divers at Twin Caves. Immediately, a rescue operation was initiated.
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"As a result, two divers made it out of the caves safely. Sadly the operation led to the recovery of a third diver that was deceased."
According to The Independent, officials have said a cause of death is being investigated by a medical examiner.
One of the three divers reportedly called owner of Cave Adventures Dive Shop, Edd Sorenson - the shop located around just three minutes from where the divers entered the park where the Twin Caves are situated.
Sorenson - who's also reportedly the nation's leading expert in dive rescues and recovery - told News13, as quoted by My Pan Handle, that one of the divers called him but because he was away from the scene at the time one of his instructors went to aid the search.
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He explained his instructor - named Mehdi - located one of the divers who was trying to find her friend but 'couldn't find him'.
Medhi dived down and tried to look for the other diver, the water with 'clear visibility in two different directions,' however, he couldn't locate him.
The instructor then returned to the surface incase the diver had managed to get back up without him seeing, but he couldn't see anyone.
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Despite being left on 'an open circuit instead of his rebreather', Mehdi 'went back in again' and 'now' in 'complete zero visibility,' Sorenson said.
He continued: "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."
By the time Sorenson had rushed to the scene, he said it was sadly too late.
Jackson County Sheriff's Office's Facebook post concluded: "Sheriff Edenfield would like to thank Jackson County Fire & Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the staff at Cave Adventures for their assistance. Please keep the families of the divers in your thoughts and prayers."
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UNILAD has contacted Jackson County Sheriff's Office for comment.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].
Poppy Bilderbeck