Photo: CBS 12
A freak accident. That's how authorities describe the drowning of a Utah man along the Treasure Coast.
The body of 22-year-old Maxwell Roberts was pulled from the ocean near the St. Lucie Inlet on Friday, hours after he free-dove from a boat with a spear gun.
"The deceased was at the bottom. (It) looked like he'd been spear fishing. The spear gun that he had been using was deployed, so the string in the spear was out. And he just had not made it back up to the surface."
Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek tells CBS 12 News that several boats, divers and a helicopter had searched for Roberts who had been staying in Vero Beach.
The boat that he dove off of was located near the Evinrude Rocks, about 2.5 miles from Sandsprit Park.
Budensiek says foul play is not suspected.
"We're kind of working off the theory that he might've gotten caught up in the moment of chasing a fish and he just didn't get back up to the surface in time. These individuals are young, fit males that know what they're doing. But this appears to be a freak accident."
An autopsy will be conducted to clear up any unknown details.