Posted on: Monday, September 10, 2001

Hilo man dies off Big Isle bay

Advertiser Staff

A Hilo man is thought to have drowned early yesterday in a fishing accident off Puna, Big Island police said.

The name of the 62-year-old man was being withheld yesterday until relatives could be contacted.

Police said that at about midnight yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard received a distress signal from a fishing vessel off Pohoiki Bay.

A Fire Department helicopter dispatched to check the coastline spotted a boat washed ashore about 1:20 a.m. and recovered a body from the water just north of Pohoiki Beach Road.

The victim was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:30 a.m.