CCSO recovers diver's body near Chazzahowitzka

Submitted by Robby Douglas on Sun, 03/07/2010 - 9:29am.

Members of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office dive team have recovered the body of a 21-year-old Vero Beach man near Chassahowtzka.

The man, Joseph Michael Kelly, was diving with two friends on Saturday in an underwater cave near the Chassahowitzka River Campground at 8600 W. Miss Maggie Drive, when he failed to surface.

Kelly was reported missing at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, the CCSO said. His body was found in about 8 feet of water at about 11:45 p.m.

Kelly was a student at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. His parents were notified, and his body was sent to the medical examiner's office in Leesburg for an autopsy.

The other two divers were reported safe.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office sent its helicopter to the area to check the shorelines, and the agency's dive team was also sent to the scene to search for the missing diver. Joining the effort was the Citrus County Fire Rescue and Nature Coast EMS.

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