Two Nevada high school football stars die in 'devastating' scuba diving accident

Two 17-year-old Nevada high school students have died in a tragic scuba diving accident.

The boys, who have not been identified, were part of a group of 19 people on a diving excursion in Monterey Bay in California.

When they failed to resurface, authorities launched a desperate search for them, hoping to find them before their air ran out.

Boats from the Monterey Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard took to the water to look for the pair, from Carson City in Nevada, fire Division Chief Felix Colello said.

But after a tense 45-minute search, the boys were found at the bottom of the lake, 45-50 feet from the surface.

Both were in cardiac arrest when they were pulled from the water. They were later declared dead at Community Hospital.

Employees of the Reno-based diving company that led the trip made the heartbreaking discovery.

What happened beneath the surface remains a mystery. The coroner's office is investigating.

Carson City Schools Superintendent Richard Stokes told the Nevada Appeal the boys, whose names have not been released, were from an oceanography class at Carson High School.

Stokes said the trip involved several dives and a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Carson football coach Blair Roman said the boys were on his varsity team, and would have been again next year.

'It's devastating,' Roman told the Reno Gazette-Journal. 'It's a devastating situation for all families involved.'

Monterey Bay, which is two-hours north of San Francisco, is a world-famous diving destination.

source : dailymail.co.uk