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A 53-year-old Puna man died Sunday in waters off Punaluu Black Sand Beach, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Kaʻu patrol officers responded to a 12:08 p.m. call Sunday reporting a possible drowning. When they arrived, they learned 53-year-old Reginald Awaa of Mountain View had been diving with family when he became distressed. He was pulled from the water and Hawaii County Fire Department personnel took him to Kaʻu hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:35 p.m.
The case has been classified as a coroner’s inquest. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death, police said.