A 67-year-old Treasure Island, Florida man died at Lower Keys Medical Center Thursday night after he collapsed on a boat after surfacing from a 40-foot dive.
Raymond Paul Smith was pronounced dead at the hospital at 7:06 p.m.
No foul play is suspected.
Smith was with three other men — ages 23, 56 and 63 — in one of the men’s 30-foot, twin outboard, center console Contender® for lobster season. The men told Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Detectives they all left Conch Harbor Marina at Key West Bight about 1:30 p.m. to go snorkeling and diving. They snorkeled first for lobster in about 5- to 8-feet of water and then went to a different spot that was about 40-feet deep, whereupon they began diving using compressed air tanks in lieu of snorkels.
Smith dove at that depth for about 15 to 20 minutes and then surfaced.
Smith stated he was not feeling well due to chest pains and needed to go back to shore. Smith then collapsed and lost consciousness.
The other men began CPR as they traveled back to the marina, where they were met by Key West Fire Department paramedics and Key West Police who took Smith to the hospital on Stock Island.