Another PSD Fatality

[BladesRobinson]

Recovery team diver dies at lake in Patagonia


By JB Miller
Published Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:56 AM MDT
A member of the Santa Cruz County Underwater Recovery Team died while diving at Patagonia Lake State Park on Sunday morning.

Lt. Raoul Rodriguez of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said that at 10:28 a.m. on May 17 deputies responded to Patagonia Lake in reference to a possible drowning. He said the underwater recovery team was conducting routine training when member Steven Dale Osburn, 58, failed to surface from a dive.

Capt. Ike Isakson of Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue said Osburn lost contact with fellow divers while at a depth of close to 60 feet. He said approximately eight minutes later Osburn was located by another member of the dive team but was unresponsive and was brought to the surface. The diver immediately began to perform CPR on Osburn.

An Air Evac helicopter was called in and continued advanced life support but efforts to revive Osburn were unsuccessful. In addition to members of Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue, at least one ranger from Patagonia Lake State Park was reported to be at the site.

 

[tc]

It appears there was another one this week.

Man dies in search for teen missing in river - The Dispatch - Columbus, Starkville & The Golden Triangle




Man dies in search for teen missing in river

May 21, 2009

Neal Wagner


A 44-year-old Itawamba County Dive Team member lost his life Wednesday during the search for a missing 15-year-old in the Buttahatchie River in Monroe County.

David Sheffield, of Tupelo, was pronounced dead on arrival at about 1:15 p.m. at the Pioneer Community Hospital in Aberdeen.

Shortly before his death, Sheffield, an Itawamba County volunteer diver, complained of breathing problems while searching for missing Smithville teen Taylor Smith in the river.

Mr. Sheffield and other members of the team had been in the water between one and two hours, said Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley. According to a witness I spoke with, Sheffield came to the surface and said he could not breathe.

Emergency crews on the scene moved Sheffield by boat to the shore and began administering medical treatment before the victim was taken by ambulance to the hospital, Gurley explained.

While officials have not yet determined Sheffield's cause of death, an autopsy was scheduled at the Mississippi Crime Lab in Jackson this morning.

As of this morning, funeral arrangements were incomplete and were being handled by McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.

Although dive teams and emergency responders from several cities and counties have been searching for Smith nearly 18 hours per day since he was reported missing May 15, the teen's body has not yet been located.

Among those searching for the teen are the Columbus Fire and Rescue Dive Team, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Team, the Lamar County, Ala., Emergency Management Agency, the Monroe County Search and Rescue and Dive teams, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, and several local volunteers.

We have brought in every resource that was available to us to safely search for the missing teenager. We are working in dangerous conditions, and others safety is a priority, said Monroe County Sheriff Andy Hood. We are continuing the recovery effort, and hope to get some closure for this family soon.

Neal Wagner is a Staff Reporter for The Commercial Dispatch.

 

[james croft]

Very sad news. I guess more details will come out later.

 

[Tango7]

It appears there was another one this week.

Man dies in search for teen missing in river - The Dispatch - Columbus, Starkville & The Golden Triangle

D'oh - should have read Blades' thread: :blush:http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/public-safety-divers/285995-itawamba-county-dive-team-ms-member-dies-during-search.html


Here's an update as far as the original victim:

UPDATE: Body of missing Smithville teen located
by Jeff Clark/Monroe360.com-Monroe Journal 21 days ago

BARTTAHTCHIE One week after he was last seen swimming in the Buttahatchie River, the body of Smithville teen Taylor Smith was recovered.

According to Monroe County Sheriff Andy Hood, Smith's body was recovered at approximately 7:30a.m.

Smith's body was recovered by volunteer Howard Hughes, Amory Police Officer Nick Weaver and deputy John Bishop, Hood said. "Howard has volunteered his time all week to help and he should really be commended his efforts. We want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication and we want to thank the community for the compassion they have shown. Wildlife and Fishery officers from all over the state have come to help and have been there from sunrise to dark.

Smith drowned on May 15 while swimming with friends in the Buttahatchie River. Local and regional agencies participated in night and day recovery efforts in the search for Smith's body.

Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley says Taylor Smith's death has been ruled an accidental drowning.

The search for Smith's body took another tragic turn Wednesday when Itawmaba Dive Team member David Sheffield died while searching for Smith's body.

Sheffield, 44, of Dorsey, was aiding in the recovery effort when he returned to the surface and complained of shortness of breath. He was transported to Pioneer Community Hospital in Aberdeen where he was pronounced dead.

Sheffield was the owner of ACOR Bonding in Tupelo and he worked for the Itawamba County Sheriff's Department from 1999 until 2003 when he took a job with the Lee County Sheriff's Department.

"He was very dedicated to his job", Leon Hayes said. "He was one of those who never questioned what needed to be done to get the job done. David was one of those who, if someone needed him, even off duty, he helped. He didn't try to shove anything off on anyone else. When he was on duty, I knew things were going to be taken care of. This is very, very tragic. I'm extremely sympathetic to his family. He wasn't just an officer, he was also a close, personal friend. His loss is very sad. He was a good person.