North Carolina man dies snorkeling at remote spot off Florida Keys, sheriff says

EDITOR’S NOTE: Investigators do not suspect foul play in the death of the snorkeler. An autopsy is to be performed.

A North Carolina man died of unknown causes while snorkeling nine miles northwest of Key West, Florida, according to investigators.

He has been identified as 56-year-old Benjamin Lee Millspaw of Belmont, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a May 11 Facebook post.

“He was pulled from the water unconscious at approximately 11:59 a.m. on May 10 ... near Cottrell Key,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Millspaw was pronounced dead at Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island. Millspaw was with a commercial snorkel company.”

An autopsy is scheduled to determine a cause of death, officials say. Foul play is not suspected to be a factor in the incident, the sheriff’s office said.

Cottrell Key is nine miles northwest of Key West and is one of three mangrove islands included in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge.

“A no-motor zone of 300 feet surrounds Cottrell Key. The wildlife management area is just 56 acres in size,” NOAA reports.

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 6:45 AM with the headline "North Carolina man dies snorkeling at remote spot off Florida Keys, sheriff says."