FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a missing diver was found dead on the ocean floor approximately 6 to 7 miles north-northeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet.
The U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce received a Mayday call over VHF Channel 16 at approximately 11:30 a.m. Friday regarding a missing diver. Following the distress call, the Coast Guard notified the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which immediately deployed 4 vessels to assist in the search.
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FWC personnel also contacted the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit, which had independently monitored the Mayday call and was already en route to assist.
Martin County Fire Rescue Lt. Daniel DeGrazia was called in at 1:30 p.m. Friday to assist with recovery efforts. DeGrazia was off-duty at the time and assisted by his own will.
Responding units made contact with the vessel involved nearly due east of Avalon State Park.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., DeGrazia recovered the body of the missing diver, who had drowned, at the bottom of the ocean in approximately 55 feet of water. The diver was pronounced deceased.
The deceased was transported to Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division is the lead agency on the investigation, as the incident occurred in their region. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing.
On Monday, the diver was identified as 63-year-old Greer Boyd of Fort Pierce.
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