WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (28 Jan 2009) — Rob Murphy loves talking about his spearfishing adventures. Since earning his scuba diving certification last year, he estimates he has made almost 400 dives. But Murphy will never forget his last dive on Jan. 9 when while surfacing in waters northeast of the St. Lucie Inlet, Murphy was struck by a passing boat. The boat operated by Roger Nicosia, an emergency room physician at Martin Memorial Medical Center North, severed Murphy's legs. Murphy lost nearly half his blood. He was lucky to escape with his life, and doctors couldn't save his legs. The accident has become a call to action for divers everywhere. On Saturday, boat ramps around Florida — including Sandsprit Park in Stuart — will have volunteers to educate boaters and anglers about dive flag safety laws. Volunteers also will have a petition that organizers hope to present to Gov. Charlie Crist to create an official state "Dive Flag Awareness Day." Murphy has become an icon for a movement that he hopes will save divers' lives. "Divers, boaters and fishermen share a tight space over reefs and wrecks," said Murphy, 26, of Palm Beach Gardens. "There are close calls between divers and boaters every day out there. I never thought it would happen to me. Now, I'm trying to make a sad situation into a positive." Since that day, Murphy has been working hard to rebuild his life. Instead of filleting his catches and posting tales and photos on fishing Web sites, Murphy works through occupational therapy to learn how to perform daily activities he once did effortlessly. Another 90 minutes a day is spent in physical therapy building his strength and dexterity. Through the pain and frustration, Murphy keeps his focus on one goal — one day returning to the water. "Once I heal completely, I hope to be able to get out and at least drive the boat for my friends until I learn how to dive again," he said. His attitude has become an inspiration for the diving community. On Spearboard.com, the thread about Murphy's accident has eclipsed 51,000 views and 500 posts. Murphy and his family are communicating with well-wishers and admit the outpouring of thoughts and prayers is overwhelming, but uplifting. Murphy is grateful he is alive. He credits his fellow divers that day for keeping him around to perhaps one day spearfish again. Quick action by them prevented Murphy from dying of blood loss. He said a tourniquet kept him from dying before Martin County emergency personnel could stabilize him for the helicopter ride to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. | Rob Murphy, 26, is slowly putting his life back together after losing his legs while diving off the coast of Florida. Murphy's mother Sandy Shafer remembers the stomach-racking phone call with the news of the accident. "I was in Publix when they called to tell me what happened," she recalled. "I rushed into the St. Mary's (emergency room) and screamed, 'Please save his legs.' A nurse just shook her head, 'No.'" Murphy's parents, sister and fellow divers will be at Sandsprit Park in Stuart — the site where Murphy was picked up by helicopter and taken to St. Mary's. "If we can keep this from happening to one more diver — if we can prevent one diver's loved ones from receiving a phone call like I did — it will make this effort worthwhile," Shafer said. by ED KILLER | 
