A Czech diver has died during an exploratory dive in Hranická propast, the world's deepest flooded freshwater cave, located in the eastern Czech Republic.
Jan Enčev, an air rescue worker and firefighter from Kladno, separated from his dive group on Wednesday and lost contact, the Cave Rescue Service said. His body was recovered without signs of life at 23:30 from a depth of 186 metres, police confirmed. Authorities have opened an investigation into negligent homicide.
The Hranická propast abyss holds a confirmed record depth of at least 450 metres in its flooded section, measured by a robot in 2022. Further exploration has since been conducted primarily with robotic equipment.