Orange City, FL – Investigators are on the case after a 62-year-old Orange City man is found dead at Blue Spring State Park.
Searchers found James Okkerse floating in the water near the boil around 3 hours after the 911 call came in.
The initial call for help came in just after 9am after Okkerse had not been seen for about 15 minutes by 2 other people who came with him.
According to that caller, Okkerse is part of a group of people who regularly swim at the spring and was a “wonderful” swimmer.
Okkerse’s body was found around 12:15pm after Air One – the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter – spotted it during the search and guided VCSO divers to the location.
Scanner traffic indicated Okkerse was using snorkel gear at the time he went missing and that some of that gear was found next to his body.
A large alligator was seen in the area at the time and has since been captured and killed by Florida Fish & Wildlife officials.
Authorities have not said at this point if the gator had any involvement in Okkerse’s death, but an autopsy has been scheduled to determine just how he died.
Photo above is courtesy of the Blue Spring State Park website.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.