Autopsy: No foul play in Broad River diving incident

This story was updated May 9 to correct the spelling of the victim’s name and his age.

The death of a Tennessee diver in the Broad River Saturday appears to have been an accidental drowning, according to autopsy results released Sunday by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Brian Owens, 57, of Johnson City, Tenn., was diving for shark teeth with six other divers when he became distressed in the water and appeared to have a medical emergency, said Beaufort County Deputy Coroner David Ott.

The group was diving recreationally and looking for shark’s teeth, and all of the divers were experienced, Ott reported.

Burton firefighters and other first responders were called to the scene about 1 p.m. Saturday. Owens was pronounced dead at Beaufort Memorial Hospital later that afternoon, Ott said.

Boaters in the area of Broad River are asked to be on the lookout for Owens’ SCUBA tank and vest, as they were removed from him and drifted off while fellow divers were recovering him from the water, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office release. If those items are observed, contact Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dispatch 911.

This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Autopsy: No foul play in Broad River diving incident."