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19-year-old West Palm Beach man in critical condition after... | www.palmbeachpost.com
A 19-year-old man is listed in critical condition at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center after sustaining a heart attack while lobster diving on Wednesday afternoon.
Michael Sellepeck, of West Palm Beach, was working on a commercial dive boat when he was stricken, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Sellepeck is believed to be the only person in Palm Beach County requiring medical attention during the two-day mini-lobster season that began on Wednesday and ended on Thursday at midnight.
Its not known if Sellepeck was lobster hunting or accompanying other divers.
Sellepeck began having trouble breathing shortly after emerging from a dive approximately 1 1/2 miles offshore, said U.S. Coast Guard marine safety detachment supervisor Michael Tappan. Within minutes, Sellepeck stopped breathing and CPR was administered by another diver on board who happened to be a paramedic.
He had hundreds of dives under his belt, including three that day, and never had a problem, Tappan said.
Sellepeck was transported on-shore by the Coast Guard and treated first at St. Marys Medical Center before being taken to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. Tappan said it was initially believed Sellepeck had suffered decompression syndrome.
A website belonging to Ocean Quest Scuba lists Sellepeck as a Padi Dive Master.
Not only is Mike professional, friendly and helpful, but he is the definition of reliable, according to the website.
While no other injuries were reported in Palm Beach or Broward counties, a 52-year-old man visiting the Florida Keys from Pennsylvania died Thursday afternoon while diving a local reef.