Death at "The Crack"

Since this made it to TDS I wanted to post this here first.

There was a cave diving fatality on Saturday, July 14. Elizabeth Anna Halbach passed away during a dive at a dive site known as The Crack. I am Liz's husband and was with her at the time.

My wife and I were very active in and committed to the cave diving community, and we both know how important it is for everyone to know what happened. We also both know how out of hand speculation can get. I have a lot of faith and trust in the cave diving community, so in exchange for your promise to not speculate about what occurred, I personally promise to the entire cave diving community that I will publish all of the details of the event here, once we know what happened.

This was one of those events that has no explanations, no reasons for occurring. All rules were followed, everything was within what are currently believed to be the limits. We, her family, need to know exactly what happened, so we are going out of our way, well above standard procedure, to determine the cause.

Once arrangements have been made, I or one of our friends will be posting details here. A big thank you to everyone who has provided me and our family support to us so far, I know we are in your hearts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Timothy Halbach

I'm very sorry for your loss.

My deepest condolences. I'm so sorry for you and your family.

Gary

I'm not familiar with this cave site but regardless I am very, very sorry for your loss Tim. :(

Tim - I am so sorry to hear about this. I only met the two of you face to face once, but I thought you were both very nice people. I hope that you are holding up well, and not letting the process of discovering what happened tear you apart. Please give my condolences to Liz's mother as well.

Kathleen Seide

Our deepest condolences. We're very sorry to hear of your loss.

Mike & Tracy

Tim, I think I met you at CE a few years ago. I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our prayers.

I am very sorry for your loss Tim and you have mydeepest condolences.

Jay

This past week I was asked to deliver a scooter from Ginnie Springs to Panama City Beach. It wasn't just the shipping charges they were trying to avoid; nobody wants to trust their scooter to the gorillas at UPS.

I said I would be happy to - there's no way I could say no because last year a couple that I had never met had done the same thing for me, delivering my scooter from Gainesville to Marianna.

It turns out that couple was Liz and Tim. Tim, you have my deepest sympathies, and I will always remember the tremendous favor the two of you did for me.

Tim:

I'm very sorry for your loss. I can relate to what you're going through emotionally right now. Although it wasn't cave diving-related, I lost my wife suddenly and unexpectedly last July 16th. Don't let the "what if's" fill your mind.

Frank

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and friends.

My prayers are with you Tim. If there is anything any of us can do to help, dont hesitate to let us know.
Andrew

Tim,
I am very sorry for your loss, you have my deepest condolences and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Bill

Tim, I am very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.

Tim, I am amazed and encouraged by your strength.


http://www.worldtribeweb.com/scuba_half_staff.jpg

On our website, http://www.divers4life.com/, I have placed a tribute to Liz, a link to the memorial fund we have set up in her name, and of course, we have pictures of our adventures from the past several years.

We are finalizing funeral arrangements and I will post those here as soon as they are final.

Tim

I meet Elizabeth a year and a half ago through VinceDS. She had joined us on a tech dive on the SG. I couldn't believe she remembered us when we saw you in P3 two weeks ago.

My deepest condolences.

Raphael

I am very sorry for your loss :(

Tim,

I am very sorry for your loss. I hope that the funeral will bring you some peace.

Regards,
Randy

Tim, my deepest condolences to you & your family.

I was fortunate to have met Liz about 2 years ago & what struck me about her the most was her exuberance for living & for diving in particular. She was always happy to tell her stories & experiences & always looking forward to her next big adventure with you.
Many times Mark & I passed by you both in the caves, it was always good to see you there.
Though I only knew her peripherally, she was an inspiration to many & reminded me in particular what it means to make living life fully a priority in our lives.

She will be missed.

Tim - you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Pat Weeks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by divers4life

On our website, http://www.divers4life.com/, I have placed a tribute to Liz, a link to the memorial fund we have set up in her name, and of course, we have pictures of our adventures from the past several years.

We are finalizing funeral arrangements and I will post those here as soon as they are final.

Tim

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Tim,

I'm heart broken by your post here, & You have my deepest sympathies. I know only too well, that you are even more heart broken of losing your life's love & dive partner. Please know that you have many friends here that will share their life with you, whenever you feel the need to be with someone. I think I may have met you & Liz a couple of years ago either at Ginnie or at the Dive Outpost, and admired the warmth & exuberance you two showed. I looked carefully thru your web site:
{ http://www.divers4life.com/} and enjoyed seeing your photos from your dives & your travels. Some of us will never be so fortunate to be able to visit the places you & Liz went. But you put your galleries up for the rest of us to look at & marvel. Thank you. Rest assured that your wife is in a much better place than we mere mortals. I hope I have the opportunity to meet with you some day again. ie: Luraville, Ginnie, etc.
Till then, may you carry her spirit with you, where ever you are.

Jack E.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gibby

Tim, I am amazed and encouraged by your strength.

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Roger that for sure!!

Jim

I am very sorry to hear the news my condolences to you and your family.



Dan

I am truly saddened by the loss of your wife. My deepest condolences.

Donn

Funeral Services for Elizabeth Anna Halbach (Urban)

Visitation at Condon Funeral Home
Friday, July 20, 10:00am - 11:30am
684 Kearny Ave
Kearny, NJ 07032

12:00 Mass to Follow at:
Queen of Peace Church
10 Franklin Place
North Arlington, NJ 07031

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory may be sent to:
Divers Alert Network
Elizabeth Anna Halbach (Urban) Memorial Research Fund
6 West Colony Place, Durham, NC 27705
800-446-2671 ext.445
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/d.../gift_form.asp

Please also feel free to look at our website: http://www.divers4life.com/ - we have details on the memorial fund, plus pictures and other information.

I admire your courage for posting this on the forum. My deepest condolences for your loss.

My prayers for you and your family thru this AWFUL time !
May God grant you His peace !
If there is ANYTHING we can do , let US KNOW !

Jean

Tim,
I'm so very sorry for your loss. My prayers go to you in this time of great sorrow. Thank you for posting your web site showing all the things you did together. It allowed me to understand a good deal of Liz love for life and adventure. She will be missed by everyone who met her and through your web site, those who had not yet had the chance to meet her.
Tom

Tim,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask. Life, and especially cave diving is a gift for a unspecified time. Do it all to the fullest.
God bless,
John LaManna

Tim -
my deepest sympathy for your loss. I admire the mature and responsible way you are handling this.

My thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Anna

If you have not alreay done so you owe it to Tim and Elizabeth, and yourself, to go to the web page and read the new write-up. This is a display of unbeleiveble strength in the face of a tragic event.
Thank you Tim and God Bless.

Curt

Dearest Tim,

I too lost someone close to me recently in an untimely way. I can only say that the manner in which you have handled this tragic event is amazing. I admire your public fortitude and focus. Likewise I am very sorry to hear about your very private loss. You have my condolences and you must remember that you are not alone. You have many solid friends that will help you thru this period of time. You have my utmost respect.

Regards,

Angie

Tim,I didnt know yall but I am very sorry for your loss.Liz was a brave girl to be by your side on such a dive.And the fact that she didnt do anything wrong makes her a pioneer in my book,because it may save someone elses life by making suttle changes for smaller size,gender ect.The whole cavediving community is saddened by your loss.

Tim I don't believe I have ever met you or Liz and I don't post much but after reading your posts I just have to say how sorry I am for you and your family and you will be in my prayers tonight. You are incredibly brave although you probably don't feel it now. God Bless you and if I ever get to dive with you it would be my honor. Bill :(