KEY LARGO, Fla. – A Key Largo man who worked as a mate on a dive vessel died Thursday night after he tried to help four divers who were drifting away from the boat.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin said the divers had been in the water off Key Largo for about 10 to 15 minutes when the current became too strong, so the captain called them back to the vessel.
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Four of the divers were drifting away from the vessel, so Steven Kipp put on a mask, snorkel and fins and got into the water to take them a line to tow them back to the boat.
Kipp, 59, gave the line to two divers and was swimming toward the other two, who had drifted farther away, when he became unresponsive, Herrin said. He was pulled onto the boat, where CPR was attempted until the U.S. Coast Guard arrived.
The Coast Guard took Kipp to shore, where he was taken to Mariner's Hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A cause of death has yet to be determined.
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