Updated at 4:07 p.m., Monday, March 26, 2007
Coast Guard probing death on catamaran
Advertiser Staff
The Coast Guard is investigating the death of a 48-year-old man killed yesterday during a whale-watching cruise aboard the Kiele V catamaran.The vessel sent out a distress call at approximately 5:09 p.m. reporting the vessel had been demasted, the Coast Guard said today.
It was approximately 2 miles off Kahana Beach near Ka'anapali Beach, Maui, when the crew requested assistance over marine channel 16 and with a 911 phone call.
The crew reported the vessel's mast had snapped.
The Kiele V had 52 people aboard at the time of the accident.
The Coast Guard responded to the call with a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Maui at Ma'alaea Harbor, a small boat from the ice breaker Polar Sea and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point, according to a news release.
In addition, two Good Samaritans — the Gemini and Teralani III — and the Maui Fire Department responded to the distress call. Fifty-one survivors were taken to shore by the Coast Guard, MFD and Good Samaritans.
Coast Guard personnel on the scene reported waves of 6 feet and winds 20 to 30 mph with stronger gusts.
