Two men are dead following a scuba diving accident in Western Wisconsin. It’s not known yet what caused their deaths but a Jackson County Medical Examiner released a statement Sunday saying the two likely died of “complications of rapid ascent after a deep freshwater dive” also known as “the bends.” The three were diving Saturday at the Lake Wazee Recreation Area, a popular destination because of its deep, clear waters.
James M. Jordan, 57 of Eagan, Minnesota was pronounced dead at Lake Wazee Saturday and 60 year old Milton Floyd of Minneapolis died Saturday evening at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Milo Squires, 53, of Chaska, Minnesota was treated at the HCMC hyperbaric chamber and released Sunday.
Floyd’s widow told Twin Cities television station KSTP that Jordan may have suffered a heart attack either below the surface or while they were trying to get to shore. Squires was above the other two men at 140 feet when he experienced an equipment failure while trying to help the other two men.
Keith Cormican who runs a dive shop near the lake told KSTP-TV he knew all three men. Cormican said they had an incident two years ago when they went deeper under water for which they were equipped or trained. Cormican says two of the men told him they were planning to dive to 200 feet this time around despite only being trained to dive to 150 feet.
Jeff Petersen-WIXK