Drowning Ruled Cause of Death in APG Navy Diver Fatalities

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined that two Navy divers who lost their lives at Aberdeen Proving Ground in February died as a result of accidental drowning.

Navy divers James Reyher, 28, and Ryan Harris, 23, had been working on air hoses in the underwater testing facility known as the "Super Pond," when they surfaced in cardiac arrest on Feb. 26, Harford County emergency personnel told The Baltimore Sun at the time.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene and another was taken to Harford Memorial Hospital, where he was also declared dead, said officials.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled this week that the deaths were caused by accidental drowning. An investigation will continue through the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, the Virginia-based diving and salvage unit to which the pair of divers belonged, Military Times reported.

George Lazarro Jr., 41, a civilian engineering technician, also died at the unexploded ordnance pond, on Jan. 30. He was working on underwater maintenance, according to officials at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner cannot release information about Lazarro's death because it remains under investigation by another agency, according to medical examiner spokesman Bruce Goldfarb.

The Super Pond at Aberdeen Proving Ground remains closed as the investigations continue.

See Related:

• Navy Releases Names of Two Divers Killed at APG
• APG Super Pond Closed Following Deaths
• More on Aberdeen Super Pond Deaths
• Officials Identify Diver Who Died in Super Pond
• Body Recovered from Aberdeen Proving Ground Pond