A diver was hit by a boat Wednesday morning in the Florida Keys following an advisory by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission earlier this week urging boaters to watch out for divers-down flags.
The man was struck around 8 a.m. off of Big Coppitt Key in the Lower Keys while diving for lobster, officials told reporters with The Miami Herald. He was helicoptered out with life-threatening injuries and taken to a hospital in Miami-Dade County.
Wednesday was the start of the lobster miniseason which lasts through to Thursday allowing six lobsters to be taken per diver in Monroe County. Regular lobster season begins August 6 until March 31.