DandyDon
May 21st, 2012, 11:03 PM
From Marysville sailor dies while snorkeling in Guam - ABC27 WHTM (http://www.abc27.com/story/18576401/marysville-sailor-dies-while-snorkeling-in-guam)
MARYSVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) - A Navy diver from Perry County died over the weekend while snorkeling off the coast of Guam, according to his family.
The cause of 20-year-old Ryan Bennett's death was not immediately known. Military officials continue to investigate, but told his parents there were no visible signs of trauma.
His parents, Marie and Mark Bennett, said their hearts sank when a uniformed officer knocked on their front door.
"It was a parent's worst nightmare," Mark Bennett said.
The Marysville native apparently was enjoying some free time when he died Saturday.
"He just collapsed," Marie Bennett said. "He wasn't able to be revived."
Bennett graduated from Susquenita High School in 2011. He played football, ran track, and wrestled, but his parents said diving was his true passion. He began diving and snorkeling when he was 12 years old, and became certified at age 17.
When it came time to pick a career, Marie Bennett said it was an easy decision.
"He came up with underwater welding and underwater construction. What better way to learn, than go into the service and have the best of the best teach you," she said.
Bennett's passion took him to Florida for training. He was deployed to Guam last month.
Last Thursday was the last time his mother spoke with him.
"I asked him, 'are you homesick yet, buddy? Are you ready to come back?' He said, 'yeah, not so much,'" she said.
Of course not. Being in Guam with the Navy. Learning about underwater welding. For Ryan Bennett, he was fulfilling a life-long dream.
"He did us proud," Mark Bennett said. "He was living his dream. That's what he wanted to do, and make it a little easier for us. He was living his dream."
Bennett's cousin was to meet him in Guam to go diving. His family said the cousin still plans to go Guam to live out both of their dreams.
MARYSVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) - A Navy diver from Perry County died over the weekend while snorkeling off the coast of Guam, according to his family.
The cause of 20-year-old Ryan Bennett's death was not immediately known. Military officials continue to investigate, but told his parents there were no visible signs of trauma.
His parents, Marie and Mark Bennett, said their hearts sank when a uniformed officer knocked on their front door.
"It was a parent's worst nightmare," Mark Bennett said.
The Marysville native apparently was enjoying some free time when he died Saturday.
"He just collapsed," Marie Bennett said. "He wasn't able to be revived."
Bennett graduated from Susquenita High School in 2011. He played football, ran track, and wrestled, but his parents said diving was his true passion. He began diving and snorkeling when he was 12 years old, and became certified at age 17.
When it came time to pick a career, Marie Bennett said it was an easy decision.
"He came up with underwater welding and underwater construction. What better way to learn, than go into the service and have the best of the best teach you," she said.
Bennett's passion took him to Florida for training. He was deployed to Guam last month.
Last Thursday was the last time his mother spoke with him.
"I asked him, 'are you homesick yet, buddy? Are you ready to come back?' He said, 'yeah, not so much,'" she said.
Of course not. Being in Guam with the Navy. Learning about underwater welding. For Ryan Bennett, he was fulfilling a life-long dream.
"He did us proud," Mark Bennett said. "He was living his dream. That's what he wanted to do, and make it a little easier for us. He was living his dream."
Bennett's cousin was to meet him in Guam to go diving. His family said the cousin still plans to go Guam to live out both of their dreams.