A 37-year-old woman died Sunday after authorities say she and her husband had a diving accident.
- Husband and wife both became unconcious after diving
- A good Samaritan radioed for help
- The couple was taken to the hospital, the wife since has died
The incident happened at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico, five miles west of Madeira Beach.
According to deputies, Roger Olson, 57, and his wife were on their fishing boat when they were approached by a man in distress.
William Gamba, 37, told Olson that his wife, Blaise Gamba, 37, had a medical emergency on his boat and that she was unconscious.
"I realized he yelled that his wife was unconscious and not breathing so I pulled up and got on the boat,” Olson said. “He started giving her chest compressions and I just drove the boat in."
Olson boarded William Gamba’s boat and called for help using a VHF radio, investigators said. Olson drove the boat inland toward John’s Pass as William Gamba performed CPR on his wife. Olson called for help on the boat’s radio while 37-year-old William Gamba tried to resuscitate his wife.
"He was quite frantic, but he kept a level head,” Olson said. “He kept doing chest compressions and probably the smartest thing he could have done was have his wits about him and pull up and get someone else to drive the boat so he could continue doing that."
When they got about half a mile west of John’s Pass marine deputies and paramedics were able to help. Soon after, William also had a medical emergency and lost consciousnes.
Deputies believe the injuries were related to a diving accident. Diving equipment was located on board the boat and both William and Blaise were wearing wet suits.
The couple was transported to Palms of Pasadena Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Blaise passed away at 10:25 Sunday morning, but her husband has been upgraded to stable condition.
Investigators say they believe the couple’s injuries are related to diving. Both were wearing wetsuits and diving equipment was found on their boat.