Body of Filmmaker Who Disappeared in Florida Found

Rob Stewart was diving in the Florida Keys when his crew lost sight of him
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 4, 2017 10:55 AM CST
Body of Filmmaker Who Disappeared in Florida Found
The body of conservationist filmmaker Rob Stewart, seen here in 2013, was found Friday after the 37-year-old disappeared while diving in the Florida Keys earlier this week.   (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

The body of an award-winning Canadian filmmaker was found Friday, three days after he disappeared while diving in the Florida Keys, the BBC reports. Rob Stewart, 37, was diving at the site of a shipwreck Tuesday while filming a sequel to his 2006 documentary Sharkwater. He disappeared after surfacing following a dive, and his family believes he may have passed out. The US Coast Guard—and others—scoured 5,500 square miles for Stewart's body and had just announced it was calling off the search when Stewart's body was found. According to Variety, his body was discovered by a remote operated vehicle 220 feet underwater. It was only about 300 feet from where Stewart had surfaced and disappeared, CBC reports.

Stewart's family describes him as being found "peacefully in the ocean." His sister says their family is "happy that Rob passed while doing what he loved." In addition to being a filmmaker, Stewart was a conservationist. Sharkwater, which won more than 40 awards, was instrumental in getting the practice of shark finning banned internationally. (More Florida Keys stories.)

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