Norman Lee, a man who worked as a comic book artist for Marvel has been presumed deceased after going missing during a snorkeling trip with his wife, Jan.
According to WMUR9, Norman Lee went missing Thursday in the Cayman Islands while going for a swim in the Grand Cayman before he and his wife were separated in the water.
However, because the search has been ongoing since Thursday, it is likely it will now be a recovery mission even though there is a chance the heavy currents will make it too difficult for a body to be found.
Chief Inspector Brad Ebanks reportedly said, “The currents in that area are strong and it is unlikely that we will make any recovery at this stage.”
Lee worked for Marvel Comics beginning in the late ‘90s beginning with Wolverine and he also worked on Avengers and X-Men. He also worked for DC comics, whose spokeswoman Courtney Simmons wrote via email, “Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.”
New York Daily News reported the 47-year-old had been snorkeling 250 yards off the Grand Cayman’s eastern coast and his wife made it back to the shore while he never did.
His friends and family were hopeful he would survive, especially since he had a strong build and had been a fencer in college in Massachusetts. One friend, Bob Shaw, said “If anyone can survive it, it’s Norman. So I hold out hope at the moment.”
The Facebook page for Lee has since been filled with photos and remembrances from friends.