Nate died spearfishing, Sunday 6/8/2014

  • With a heavy heart I write this. I was just informed that our own Nate died this morning Sunday June 2014. He was spearfishing with a buddy from his boat out of Haulover. At this time I don't have more details than this article Deadly Diver Disaster On Haulover Beach. My condolences to his family and friends.


    MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A diver lost his life Sunday after he went missing on what was supposed to be a fun fishing trip at Haulover Beach.
    The diver was out spear fishing with his friend near 10350 Collins Ave on Sunday afternoon. Both divers were said to have gone underneath the water, but when the other diver came up he noticed his friend was missing, according to Miami Dade police.
    The friend called search units for help and after an intense search, the Marine Patrol found the missing man.
    The diver was taken to Haulover Park Marina and then transported to Aventura hospital where he was placed in critical condition.
    Doctors fought to keep him alive but he was pronounced dead.

  • No! RIP Nate and my deep condolences to the family. Deeply saddening.

  • RIP Nate. Tragic news.

    "Whiskey don't make liars, it just makes fools. So, I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said."
    -James McMurtry

  • Oh no! This is so tragic. I am devastated. What a loss.
    God speed my brother. May you always be at peace and may your memory be forever a blessing.
    Shit. I feel so sick. Has anyone heard from Steven or drew?

    i like to spear fish

  • Dan - please provide us with details when able.


    I am willing to donate something to family if necessary or helpful.


    I am very sadden by this.

  • Idk what to say. I popped on after work hoping to see someones catch from the weekend and instead I am met with this. I feel sick. ****


    RIP and Condolences to Nates family. Im sorry Steven and Andrew, I know you guys were brothers.

    Edited 2 times, last by Reefchief ().

  • These are the details I was told. Nate and Andrewk took Nate's boat out of Haulover. They were drifting in 50ft. Andrew was driving the boat and Nate was diving. At some point he didn't surface. A shot grouper floated to the surface (without a shaft). Andrew threw anchor and called emergency services. Help arrived and Nate was found on the bottom right near where the boat was anchored, but it was too late to revive him. I don't know if he was pronounced dead right there or at the hospital.


    When I was first informed of this via pm there were no details, only that Nate died. My first thought was a car accident or something, I just didn't think it was diving related as Nate was an experienced diver. When I was later told that it happened spearfishing I couldn't assimilate it. But when I saw the link to the news I knew it was true.


    My thoughts about how it happened are as follows. Nate obviously shot the fish. A grouper is a bottom fish and will stay close to the bottom after being shot, hole up if possible. In my experience a shot fish that gets off the spear doesn't float up from the bottom at 50'. So I believe Nate was on his way up with the fish and blacked out midwater or near the surface. The strange thing to me is that the fish was off the shaft, as I would never mess with the fish and spear until I'm at the surface, especially after a deep dive. But Nate's close dive partner Steven says that it was consistent with Nate's diving style, that he would on occasion manipulate the fish on ascent.


    Pantoja told me that in some rare instances a fish will float up from the bottom after being shot. I'll leave it to him to explain how this happens as I've never seen it. To me the first scenario is more plausible.


    [IMG2='left']http://spearfishing.world/cust…pics/profilepic1478_1.gif[/IMG2]I'm shocked and saddened and angry because this didn't need to happen. I knew and liked Nate. He had a calm pleasant presence, and a logical approach to spearfishing gear which I respected. He had a true spirit of an outdoorsman, threads like this one really made me feel http://spearfishing.world/othe…uburban-duck-hunting.html, and his posts like in this thread http://spearfishing.world/spea…-vertical-reel-users.html demonstrate his straight forward approach and desire to help out others with his knowledge. I think his profile picture makes a statement, something all of us who have been in the water enough can relate to. I took for granted that Nate will be a member of our spearfishing community for years to come, even with his pending move back home to Louisiana. I will miss him.

  • These are the details I was told. Nate and Andrew K took Nate's boat out of Haulover. They were drifting in 50ft. Andrew was driving the boat and Nate was diving. At some point he didn't surface. A shot grouper floated to the surface (without a shaft). Andrew threw anchor and called emergency services. Help arrived and Nate was found on the bottom right near where the boat was anchored, but it was too late to revive him. I don't know if he was pronounced dead right there or at the hospital.

    Nates first dive was his only dive. When I noticed the fish soon after he went down I moved the boat to pick it up. The fish was floating with one hole in its side that had broken its spine. When I didn't see Nate is when I called out his name. Then I screamed his name over and over looking everywhere but in my gut I knew something wasn't right. I called 911 at 12:23 pm Sunday June 8th, 2014 . By 12:41 he had been brought to the surface by rescuers.


    Sunday was the hardest day of my life. I'm keeping myself just going and going as best as I can. I'll be posting updates when I can or when I feel comfortable doing so.

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