BRITISH CAVE DIVER ANDREW RICE, 43, FOUND DEAD NEARLY 300 FEET UNDERWATER IN FRANCE

CALÈS, FRANCE — A British cave diver who disappeared during an underwater expedition in southern France has been found dead nearly 300 feet beneath the surface, after a major two-day search involving specialist rescue teams.

Andrew Rice, 43, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, entered the Gouffre de Saint-Sauveur resurgence near Calès at around 3:30 p.m. on September 18.

He was an experienced cave diver and had travelled to France as part of a group of divers.

When he failed to return several hours later, an emergency operation was launched.

His body was eventually located on September 20, at a depth of approximately 88 metres (289 feet) inside the cave system.

A ROUTINE DIVE TURNS INTO AN EMERGENCY

Rice entered the narrow underground network with two other divers.

The two other divers eventually returned safely to the main group, but Rice did not resurface.

By around 8 p.m., concern had grown and an alarm was raised.

French authorities activated a major underground rescue operation involving firefighters, gendarmes, specialist cave divers and members of the French cave-rescue organisation.

The operation was complicated by the depth and difficult configuration of the underwater cave.

RESCUERS HOPED HE HAD FOUND AN AIR CHAMBER

During the first stages of the search, there was still hope that Rice might have survived by reaching an air-filled chamber inside the cave.

Local officials said an air chamber was located at roughly 80 metres (260 feet) below the surface.

Rescuers worked their way toward the chamber, hoping they might find Rice alive and sheltering there.

But when specialist teams reached and searched the chamber, there was no sign of him.

The search continued deeper into the cave system.

HIS BODY WAS FOUND 88 METRES DOWN

Two days after he disappeared, rescuers finally located Rice.

His body was found at approximately 88 metres underwater, deep inside the Saint-Sauveur cave system.

French prosecutor Clara Ribeiro said the body initially could not be brought back to the surface because of the configuration of the cave.

A further recovery attempt was planned.

The difficult environment also created serious visibility problems. Disturbed clay in the water made it harder for divers to see and navigate the narrow passages.

REPORTS SAY HE BECAME CAUGHT IN A GUIDELINE

Reports from French media and subsequent coverage said Rice was found caught in a guideline used by cave divers to navigate submerged passages.

The line, sometimes referred to as “Ariadne’s thread,” is used to help divers find their way through dark and complex underwater cave networks.

However, authorities have not established that this was the cause of death.

An investigation has been opened to determine exactly what happened.

HE WAS AN EXPERIENCED DIVER

Rice was not a newcomer to technical diving.

He was described as an experienced cave diver and was involved with the InDepth Dive Club, where he served as a Deputy Training Officer, according to specialist diving publication X-Ray Mag.

His social media accounts showed his enthusiasm for diving and his preparations for the French trip.

In the days before his disappearance, Rice had been documenting his dives and appeared excited about reaching a major personal milestone.

HE WAS PREPARING FOR HIS 1,000TH DIVE

One of the most poignant details to emerge after his death was Rice’s own description of the dive he had been preparing to make.

On September 9, he wrote that he and his group were returning to France to continue an unfinished project.

He hoped that, if everything went according to plan, he would complete dive number 1,000.

Just hours before the fatal dive, he posted another update saying he was feeling confident with his equipment and was ready for the “Big one.”

The dive was expected to mark a significant milestone in his years of diving.

TRIBUTES POUR IN

News of Rice’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow divers and friends.

One person described being devastated by the news and said Rice would never be forgotten.

Another called the incident extremely tragic and sent thoughts to Rice’s friends and fellow members of his diving community.

For those who knew him, the loss has been particularly painful because diving was such an important part of his life.

INVESTIGATION INTO HIS DEATH CONTINUES

French authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Rice’s death.

At this stage, officials have not publicly established the precise cause of death.

The difficult underwater environment, the depth of the cave and the challenging recovery operation have all complicated efforts to determine exactly what happened.

The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the dive and the events leading to Rice’s death.

For his friends and fellow divers, however, the immediate focus is on remembering a highly experienced diver whose planned 1,000th dive ended in tragedy.

Andrew Rice went into the Saint-Sauveur cave hoping to complete another milestone in a lifetime spent underwater.

Instead, his final dive became a two-day rescue operation and a heartbreaking loss for the diving community.