An Ozark man snorkeling with a tour group off the coast of Florida on Christmas Day died after having some kind of issue in the water, authorities say.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office, in Marathon, Florida, reports that Owen Holmes, 69, was visiting the Florida Keys with family. Holmes boarded a boat operated by Starfish Snorkeling and was snorkeling offshore of Marathon near Sombrero Key lighthouse when Holmes began to have a problem in the water, the sheriff's report said.
The lighthouse is about five miles offshore.
Holmes was brought aboard the boat and the crew began administering CPR. The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted and arrived in a boat to transport Homes to shore.
The sheriff's report says Holmes was transported to Fishermen's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to the sheriff's report, Holmes had a number of medical conditions. There were no signs of trauma or injury when he was brought aboard the boat.
An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of his death. Major Crimes Detective Bernardo Barrios was assigned to the case.
On Tuesday, Barrios said there were no storms or rough water conditions occurring when Holmes began having trouble in the water.
Marathon is about halfway down the chain of islands that makes up the Florida Keys.