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The Honolulu Advertiser

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.