grantwiscour
Contributor
Shared from Ka'u Calendar/News Briefs
The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, August 31, 2019
A DECEASED NIGHT DIVER, REPORTED AS "IN DISTRESS" LAST NIGHT, was recovered off the coast of Kamilo Point, east of South Point, this morning. Capt. Chad Sohriakoff of Hawaiʻi County Fire Department reported that difficult access to the remote, rocky, and jagged shoreline resulted in a two hour response time. Rescuers arrived in the area near midnight. In rough surf, they spotted the dive light 20 yards offshore and thought it could be attached to the distressed swimmer.
Pāhala Engine Company 11 and Waiakea Rescue Company 2 searched by foot along the shoreline, while a U.S. Coast Guard chopper scoured the coastline by air. It was determined that the dive light was detached from the victim.
With no success at night, a county helicopter began a search at first light. The body was located just before daybreak and was transported via Waiakea Rescue Chopper 1 to Nāʻālehu Police Station, where it was released to Hawaiʻi Police Department officers.
HFD units cleared the Kamilo scene at 7:15 a.m. The identity of the deceased has not yet been revealed.
The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, August 31, 2019
A DECEASED NIGHT DIVER, REPORTED AS "IN DISTRESS" LAST NIGHT, was recovered off the coast of Kamilo Point, east of South Point, this morning. Capt. Chad Sohriakoff of Hawaiʻi County Fire Department reported that difficult access to the remote, rocky, and jagged shoreline resulted in a two hour response time. Rescuers arrived in the area near midnight. In rough surf, they spotted the dive light 20 yards offshore and thought it could be attached to the distressed swimmer.
Pāhala Engine Company 11 and Waiakea Rescue Company 2 searched by foot along the shoreline, while a U.S. Coast Guard chopper scoured the coastline by air. It was determined that the dive light was detached from the victim.
With no success at night, a county helicopter began a search at first light. The body was located just before daybreak and was transported via Waiakea Rescue Chopper 1 to Nāʻālehu Police Station, where it was released to Hawaiʻi Police Department officers.
HFD units cleared the Kamilo scene at 7:15 a.m. The identity of the deceased has not yet been revealed.
