PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man dived to retrieve golf balls from a golf course pond and never reappeared.
The St. John’s Fire Rescue declared the unidentified victim to have died at the scene.
No cause of death has been confirmed.
“Unfortunately, you often go back and analyze the accident, most of the time it is a diver’s mistake,” said Dan Michelke, diving expert at First Coast Divers.
Christy Waldenmaier, a neighbor who lives near the pond, says it is not common to see people in the water looking for golf balls.
“We just don’t have it. You don’t see many people climbing in the lagoon looking for golf balls. If so, this is usually done in a controlled environment, ”said Waldenmaier.
Action News Jax reached out to Ponte Vedra Inn & Club to see if the man was an employee and we are waiting for a response.
Michelke says this is a reminder to take precautions while diving.
“Regardless of the diving environment you are in, it doesn’t matter whether it was a 5- to 6-foot retention pond he collected golf balls in or a 100-foot wreck dive off the Jacksonville coast. It’s all the same, ”said Michelke.
A viewer posted Action News Jax photos of SJSO vehicles responding to the Lagoon Course at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.
Action News Jax contacted SJSO about the investigation and learned the following:
“One person was diving to clear golf balls from a pond and the person did not respond. The fire department announced the deceased. An investigation is ongoing. “
This is a developing story. Check again for updates.
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