UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (9/14/09)

The Hawai’i Police Department, along with the Hawai’i Fire Department, responded to a 2:05 p.m. call Saturday (September 12) of an apparent drowning in waters off Kona International Airport.

The victim, who was reported to be picking opihi, was spotted face down and motionless in the water about 25 yards off shore. Fire Department divers placed the victim in a net suspended from the Fire Department’s helicopter and brought him ashore, where ground units attempted to revive him.

The victim, identified as 44-year-old David Kawika Magallanes of Kailua-Kona, was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 3:30 p.m.

Police have initiated a coroners inquest case. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.

MEDIA RELEASE (9/12/09)

Fire/rescue units responded to a 2:07 p.m. alarm Saturday (Sept 12) for a 44 year-old opihi picker lost in the ocean at Keahole Point in Kona. The picker was missing for 40 minutes before being located floating face-down by Chopper Two 25 yards off-shore according to the man’s friend.

The victim was airlifted from the water by Chopper Two via Billy Pugh net and a rescue specialist. The man was taken via medic unit to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of death was reported to be a possible drowning.