Posted on: Sunday, October 20, 2002

Two ocean-related deaths investigated

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 16-year-old boy died after losing consciousness aboard a fishing boat, one of two deaths yesterday off O'ahu shores.

The boy and his father were participating in a fishing tournament off Kalaeloa, Coast Guard Petty Officer Wesley Stech said.

The man found his son unconscious in a cabin below about noon, and suspected his son might have been overcome by carbon monoxide from the boat's exhaust, Stech said.

A Coast Guard helicopter flew to the boat, which was three miles offshore, and took the boy to Kuakini Medical Center, which has a hyperbaric chamber.

The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The second death was off Kea'au Beach Park in Makaha.

Surfers saw a man's body floating in the high surf about 2:30 p.m. and notified authorities, Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said.

Lifeguards brought the body to shore on a jet-powered watercraft and turned him over to firefighters. Paramedics pronounced the man dead.

Police were trying to determine the man's identity. Tejada said he appeared to be in his 40s or 50s.