A British diver was found dead at a depth of 88 meters in a cave system in southwest France, two days after he failed to resurface. The incident occurred during an exploration of the Gouffre de Saint-Sauveur resurgence in the Lot department, where the 43-year-old, whose identity has not been released, was diving with a group of eight experienced British divers on Friday.

Rescue efforts involved the French cave rescue service, local rescue divers, firefighters, as well as divers from the gendarmerie. They conducted searches within the cave’s narrow and flooded passages, including an air chamber located 79 meters into the cave, though no signs of the diver were found in that area. The body was ultimately located at a greater depth but has not yet been recovered due to murky water conditions hindering safe retrieval operations.

Clara Ribeiro, the public prosecutor for the Lot region, told local media that the diver became entangled in a guideline during the dive, which is believed to have contributed to the fatal accident. Details about the precise circumstances leading to the entanglement have not been fully disclosed.

The British Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting the diver’s family and maintaining contact with French authorities as they manage the response to the tragedy. The case underscores the inherent risks involved in deep cave diving, even among highly skilled and experienced divers.