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World's Greatest Freediver Natalia Molchanova Disappears, Feared Dead

Natalia Molchanova reacts after she set a new world record, holding her breath underwater for 7 minutes and 16 seconds, on Aug. 26, 2005.

A world-record–breaking freediver who could hold her breath for nine minutes and swim to a depth of more than 300 feet has disappeared and is presumed dead.

Natalia Molchanova was diving in the Balearic Sea off the coast of Spain Sunday when she vanished, according to an announcement posted on her Facebook page and on the site of AIDA, a world freediving association. At some point, Molchanova became separated from her peers and was caught in a strong underwater current.