Filmmaker’s family sues diving company
The family of a Canadian filmmaker and conservationist who died during a shark filming excursion off the Florida Keys filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Tuesday.
Rob Stewart, 37, of Toronto, died while diving in January off the coast of Islamorada, Fla., to film a followup to his 2006 documentary Sharkwater, which examined the impact of shark hunting on the ocean’s ecosystem.
He also made a 2013 documentary, Revolution, about environmental collapse and was a wildlife photographer.
According to the lawsuit, Stewart and dive organizer Peter Sotis both surfaced at the same time with apparent breathing difficulties, but Stewart didn’t make it back on board the dive boat. While others were treating Sotis, Stewart slipped away.
Stewart’s submerged body was found three days later, about 91 metres from where he was last spotted, following a massive search involving the Coast Guard and several other agencies.
Stewart’s death “was a preventable tragedy that was going to happen to someone,” his family’s lawyer, Michael Haggard, said in an email.
Unspecified damages are being sought from Horizon Dive Adventures of Key Largo, Fla., Add Helium LLC of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and dive organizers Peter and Claudia Sotis, who operate Add Helium.
A lawyer for Sotis did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.