MONROE COUNTY, Fla. — Three significant incidents, including two deaths, occurred in Monroe County during the annual lobster mini season this week, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.
According to MCSO spokesman Adam Linhardt, Clarence Shawver, 82, of Palm City, died Wednesday after being found unresponsive in Gulf waters about five miles off Mile Marker 60.
Linhardt said Shawver was snorkeling when he was seen in distress and then taken ashore at 10:45 a.m.
He was transported to Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, where he died.
Linhardt confirmed that another man, Raymond Bruce Sasser, 61, of Loxahatchee, died Thursday after snorkeling off Mile Marker 74.
“Sasser lost consciousness at approximately 8:30 a.m.,” Linhardt said in an email to Local 10 News. “He was taken ashore and then to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, Florida where he was pronounced dead.”
Autopsy results are pending for both victims and foul play is not suspected in either case.
In addition to the two deaths, Linhardt confirmed that a juvenile was injured by a boat propeller around 11 a.m. Thursday about five miles off Mile Marker 48.
He said the victim reportedly suffered a leg injury and was airlifted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami.
“Overall, the 2025 lobster mini season was typical for the Sheriff’s Office,” Linhardt said. “Most people were in compliance and the number of vessel stops, notice-to-appear in court citations, and arrest figures were normal/typical compared to recent years.”
According to Linhardt, the sheriff’s office made about 526 resource checks and made no physical arrests, although he said deputies handed out about 16 mandatory notice to appear in court citations during the two-day lobster mini season.
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