KEY LARGO, Florida (3 May 2005) -- A Palm Bay Community Hospital kidney specialist died during a weekend Key Largo diving accident, officials confirmed today. Dr. Tarik Khair-El-Din, 44, was reported missing during a diving expedition Saturday to the USS Spiegel Grove artificial reef, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Khair-El-Din, an Indialantic resident, began working with Holmes Regional Medical Center and Palm Bay Community Hospital in 1994, Health First officials said. Monroe County investigators said his body was found face down about 100 yards from the wreck of the Spiegel Grove. His dive mask was still on but a officials said his air tank appeared empty. Witnesses said Khair-El-Din was reported missing from the N2DEEP dive boat after surfacing and disappearing near the waves, officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard, the sheriff's office and Key Largo Fire-Rescue carried out a search of the nearby area, officials said. Health First officials said Khair-El-Din, known to colleagues and patients as Dr. Khair, was well respected. | | Dr. Tarik Khair-El-Din "We were saddened to hear about Dr. Khair's passing. He was a wonderful supporter of the hospital and the South Brevard community," said Gail Schuneman, president of the Palm Bay Community Hospital. "He will be greatly missed." He received his medical degree from Cairo University in Egypt and completed his internship and residency at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. SOURCE - Florida Today |
