The preliminary autopsy results confirm that Sofía Devries, the 23-year-classic who died while scuba diving in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, died from drowning, according to reports released Thursday.
Devries’ body was recovered by the Argentine Naval Prefecture (Prefectura Naval Argentina) on Wednesday afternoon, approximately 20 meters deep near the site of the HU SHUN YU 809 shipwreck in the Golfo Nuevo, after a more than 48-hour search. She had been missing since Monday, February 16th, while completing a certification dive with Free Diving Patagonia.
The initial forensic report indicates that Devries died from asphyxiation due to submersion, with no immediate signs of foul play, according to reports from Clarín and Perfil. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine if any negligence on the part of the dive operators may have contributed to her death.
Devries was attempting to earn a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification, requiring a dive to a depth of approximately 20 meters. She was diving with her boyfriend, Leonardo Alonso, who reported she experienced a problem and was unable to ascend. Both Alonso and the dive instructor made multiple attempts to locate Devries underwater and subsequently required medical attention, Perfil reported.
The search operation involved a significant deployment of personnel and resources, though officials acknowledged the diminishing likelihood of finding Devries alive as the search continued, according to Clarín. Visibility at the depth where she was found was reportedly poor, complicating the search efforts.
Devries, a resident of Villa Ballester in the province of Buenos Aires, was a student of Business Administration at the National Technological University (UTN) and also worked as a content creator, sharing travel and lifestyle experiences online. She had traveled to Puerto Madryn with Alonso specifically to pursue her diving certification.
A funeral service is scheduled to transport Devries’ remains from Chubut province to Villa Ballester on Thursday, according to local news sources. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death remains ongoing, with further forensic analysis pending.
