Female diver pronounced dead after crews discover her unconscious at Phil Foster Memorial Park

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. - PBSO Marine Unit Deputies found an unresponsive female diver when patrolling the south side of the Phil Foster Bridge roughly between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday near the life guarded swimming zone.

The diver was a 57-year old woman from Clearwater, according to Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Her name has not been released.

Barbera says, the woman's dive buddy told her to surface, but she continued to go down for starfish. After a brief separation, the dive buddy thought she was swimming back to the beach. As the dive buddy surfaced, he saw PBSO Marine Unit deputy pulling the victim on board the boat, then transport her to the docks.

Deputies called emergency responders who transported the woman to St. Mary's Medical center where she was pronounced dead.

It is unsure if this was an accident or the result of a medical problem. Investigation continues.