A freediver described as "the most promising athlete in the US" met a tragic end when his lungs were squeezed to the size of oranges during a record attempt. Nicholas Mevoli, 32, died on November 17, 2013, while competing at Vertical Blue in the Bahamas.
Rise to Prominence
Before his diving career, Mevoli worked as a prop technician on shows like Gossip Girl and Chappelle's Show, and acted in independent films. In early 2012, he switched to competitive freediving and quickly excelled, winning titles at Deja Blue and placing third at the Caribbean Cup. His crowning achievement came on May 27, 2013, when he set an American record with a 100-meter dive in the Constant Weight category.
Warning Signs
In September 2013, Mevoli wrote a blog post that now seems prophetic: "Numbers infected my head like a virus and the need to achieve became an obsession. Obsessions can kill." British freediver Sara Campbell, who had concerns about his risk-taking, called it "like a premonition."
On November 15, 2013, during a dive to 96 meters, Mevoli suffered an upper respiratory squeeze—a lung injury caused by pressure—and turned back at 80 meters. Such injuries typically require one to two months of recovery, but Mevoli returned to the water just two days later.
The Final Dive
On November 17, Mevoli attempted a Constant Weight Without Fins dive to 72 meters at Dean's Blue Hole. At 68 meters, he hesitated but continued downward. After 3 minutes and 38 seconds, he surfaced but collapsed unconscious. Despite 90 minutes of resuscitation efforts by safety divers and the event physician, he died at Vid Simms Memorial Health Centre.
An autopsy revealed pulmonary edema—fluid buildup in the lungs that causes a sensation of drowning. Mevoli became the first athlete to die in an international freediving competition. His death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of pushing the human body to its limits.
