Last month, Canadian director and environmental activist Rob Stewart tragically passed away after going missing during a dive off the coast of Florida. The 37-year-old filmmaker, best known for his Sharkwater documentary, died while working on a follow-up film. Now, his family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
As the CBC reports, the lawsuit alleges that Stewart and dive organizer Peter Sotis both surfaced at the same time due to breathing difficulties. The lawsuit suggests that other divers were preoccupied with looking after Sotis and allowed Stewart to slip away.
After going missing, Stewart's body was discovered three days later.
In an email to the CBC, Stewart's family attorney Michael Haggard said the death "was a preventable tragedy that was going to happen to someone," adding that the family "hopes the legal action will push out and/or change the ways of all irresponsibly operating diving businesses and help keep attention on Stewart's mission of ocean conservation."
Stay tuned for more information on the lawsuit as it becomes available.
As the CBC reports, the lawsuit alleges that Stewart and dive organizer Peter Sotis both surfaced at the same time due to breathing difficulties. The lawsuit suggests that other divers were preoccupied with looking after Sotis and allowed Stewart to slip away.
After going missing, Stewart's body was discovered three days later.
In an email to the CBC, Stewart's family attorney Michael Haggard said the death "was a preventable tragedy that was going to happen to someone," adding that the family "hopes the legal action will push out and/or change the ways of all irresponsibly operating diving businesses and help keep attention on Stewart's mission of ocean conservation."
Stay tuned for more information on the lawsuit as it becomes available.