A Massachusetts doctor died Thursday while diving on vacation in Florida.
Dr. Robert K. McIntyre, chief of medicine at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, was found dead in Florida after an apparent diving accident, the health system said.
The U.S Coast Guard said they were searching for McIntyre, 58, after he was last seen diving Thursday morning near Lake Worth Inlet in Palm Beach County, Florida. His body was recovered the same day.
McIntyre had gone on vacation to Florida and went diving on a charter boat three miles off the Jupiter inlet near West Palm Beach around 11 a.m. Thursday.
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The Coast Guard said the dive was scheduled to last about 35 to 45 minutes, but McIntyre never resurfaced.
The captain called for help. The Coast Guard and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office began a search, eventually recovering McIntyre's body around 3 p.m.
"Along with being an extraordinarily talented and gifted physician who cared deeply about his patients and colleagues, Bob was known for his compassion, intelligence and sense of humor. He was a mentor to members of our hospitalist staff, friend, and educator to many healthcare professionals. He helped create a superb and highly respected hospitalist service," South Shore Health said in a statement.
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McIntyre had worked at South Shore Hospital since 2012. He had also worked at Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Boston and served in the Medical Corps of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of McIntyre's death.
