Record-breaking cave diver, 56, dies while exploring the deepest underwater cave in America after he was last seen 550 feet underground attaching a guide rope and becoming separated
- Brett Hemphill was last seen on October 4 tying a guide rope at a depth of approximately 550 feet.
- However, he was separated from his team, who began a desperate search to find him
- His body was found four days later and friends flooded his social media with heartbroken messages
An experienced diver drowned while exploring an underwater cave system in Texas, believed to be the deepest of its kind in the United States.
Brett Hemphill, 56, of Florida, began his dive into Phantom Springs Cave at 10:45 a.m. on October 4.
He was last seen attaching a guide rope at a depth of about 550 feet (170 m), but the team he was with became separated and Hemphill never returned from the dive.
Other divers began a desperate search to locate him, venturing more than 450 feet and a mile into the cave to find him. His body was found four days later.
Hemphill set a record in 2013 while exploring the same cave system, diving nearly 8,000 feet at a depth of 450 feet.
Brett Hemphill, 56, of Florida, began his dive into Phantom Springs Cave at 10:45 a.m. on October 4.
Hemphill drowned while exploring an underwater cave system in Texas, believed to be the deepest of its kind in the United States
He has been exploring and mapping water caves for more than twenty years.
He also served as president of Karst Underwater Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and protecting underwater ecosystems.
“We finished retrieving Brett from the cave tonight,” cave explorer and anesthesiologist Andy Pitkin wrote on the Karst Facebook page.
‘Thanks to everyone who contributed in any way. When we have all the information and analyzed it, we will release a statement on the incident answering everyone’s questions.
“Until then, please give us time to grieve his loss as until now we have been focused on his recovery.”
Emmy Award-winning photographer Becky Kagan Schott, who worked with Hemphill since she was 18, posted a moving tribute to the future diver.
Hemphill also served as president of Karst Underwater Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and protecting underwater ecosystems
‘Heartbreaking. Today the diving community has lost another great cave explorer and friend,” Schott wrote.
She described him as “a true explorer and a true friend.
“We’ve won Emmys together, educating the public about cave safety and what draws people to these places. I will always smile when I think of you, but right now I am heartbroken, as are all your friends. You meant a lot to a lot of people,” she said.
Phantom Springs is considered the deepest underwater cave in the country, with a record pressure of 462 ffw / 140.8 m.
Its actual depth is unknown, as no explorer has been able to venture that far.
In January 2012, Hemphill and Pitkin participated in an expedition to map the upstream and downstream portions of the cave for research purposes.
Only a few are allowed to dive at Phantom Springs, with permission for research purposes
It is also the longest underwater cave in the United States, outside of Florida.
In January 2012, Hemphill and Pitkin participated in an expedition to map the upstream and downstream portions of the cave for research purposes.
Only a few are allowed to dive at Phantom Springs, with permission for research purposes.
Dozens of friends posted tributes to Hemphill on his Facebook page, where his bio reads: “Keep breathing.”
