– Long-tailed keyword: Diver found dead in Lake Erie identified as underwater explorer
– Similar long-tailed keyword: Diver fatally discovered in Lake Erie recognized as underwater adventurer.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A 70-year-old man who was found deceased in Lake Erie last week has been identified as Dave VanZandt, an underwater explorer who went missing while diving to a recently-discovered shipwreck. VanZandt was the founder, director, and chief archaeologist at Cleveland Underwater Explorers, a nonprofit organization that focuses on studying and documenting shipwrecks and other sunken artifacts in the Great Lakes region, particularly Lake Erie.
Despite being listed as “semi-retired” from his roles at Cleveland Underwater Explorers, VanZandt still participated in some of their projects. Tragically, on Saturday, during his first dive of the year, he failed to return to the boat and suffered a fatal diving accident while exploring a newly-found shipwreck. The details surrounding the incident have not been disclosed by either the organization or the authorities involved in recovering his body.
The United States Coast Guard initially reported a 70-year-old man missing in Lake Erie near Cleveland, prompting search efforts by multiple agencies, including the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Erie County dive team. Ultimately, divers from Lake County located VanZandt’s body, confirming his identity. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office officially identified him as VanZandt of Lakewood after his recovery from the water near Cleveland’s East 9th Street pier.
“Our condolences to his wife and family,” the nonprofit organization expressed in a Facebook post following the tragic incident. The loss of Dave VanZandt has deeply impacted the underwater exploration community, highlighting the risks and challenges faced by those dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the Great Lakes’ shipwrecks..
– Diver found dead in Lake Erie identified as underwater explorer
– Diver found dead in Lake Erie identified as underwater explorer.
