Another Loss

Derek Rowell…our company's 'tree guy', but I’ve known him for 13 years or so, he coached Danny in baseball and basketball, played softball with mom, and I babysat his kids…died on Friday or Saturday while scuba-diving in Mexico. Apparently they do this often…him, his friend Jerry (who mom knows from Softball and he’s also our pool repair guy), and his youngest son, Steven (who I babysat when he was 4 or 5)…and he lost some of the weights in his belt while they were descending. Steven gave him one of his weights and everything went fine, they finished their dive and everything seemed okay. According to Jerry, Derek ascends head first and Jerry ascends on his back, so Steven and Derek had already surfaced by the time Jerry did and Jerry saw Steven trying to get Derek in the boat, so Jerry knew immediately something was wrong. They tried giving him CPR, but all Jerry was getting was blood. They were 55 miles off shore. The Coast Guard was there when they got to shore, but Derek was already dead. I believe Derek is still in Mexico and they are still awaiting the autopsy, but Jerry says that Derek lost his weight belt and ascended too quickly and his lungs just blew up basically. The funeral is this afternoon and I am attending with mom.
Derek was a wonderful guy, so full of life, such fun. He was only 42 years old. It’s so shocking, such a tragedy. I just can’t believe it. What a horrible thing for Steven to go through, at 17 years old, to have your father die in your arms. Steven, and Derek's whole family, will be in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you Derek, you will be missed.