06/11/08
Diver death near Venice Beach
David Flom is still in shock from a rescue that took place two weeks ago -- and wondering about the health of two distressed divers he plucked from rough Gulf Waters.
Flom, a Venice resident, moved to Florida from Russia 17 years ago where he was a registered lifeguard.
On Saturday, May 24, he was at the beach with his son between Sharky's Pier and Service Club Park. The waves were too big to go swimming, he said, so he and his son began playing volleyball when they heard a faint scream.
"The beach was pretty empty," Flom said. "When I heard the screaming, it really surprised me."
Flom immediately swam out about 80 yards to help who he thought was a distressed child.
What he found were two scuba divers -- one floating face down.
Flom dragged both Clifford J. Ellis, 77, of Gulfport, and his partner, Elizabeth Indriso, to shore as bystanders called 911.
Flom and others performed CPR on Ellis, but he didn't respond.
Flom said Indriso was shaking and seemed to have lost direction.
"I was in shock," Flom said. "I didn't think of myself. I just thought I had to help."
"I asked the woman (Indriso) if she was alright, but she told me to just save him (Ellis)," Flom said.
Within five minutes, a Sarasota County EMS Rescue Unit responded to take over the medical treatment. Ellis was transported to Venice Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. Fire medics believe the cause was a massive heart attack.
Flom instructed his son to take photos for investigation purposes, which Flom brought to the Venice Police Department the following day.
Indriso could not be reached for comment.
By Jessica Miller
Intern