KAILUA-KONA — Police last week said they are investigating an apparent drowning May 20 in the waters off old Old Kona Airport Park.
The victim, Martin Gordon Ruby, 64, was snorkeling with a companion off a private boat when the two were caught in a fast-moving current shortly before 10 a.m. that carried them roughly 300 yards from the vessel, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The two were caught in the current just minutes after jumping into the water from the boat, “Catchem 1,” witnesses told the DLNR.
They began to swim back to the vessel and the captain of the boat, Chuck Haupert, swam up to the female occupant and gave her a flotation device to help her swim, the DLNR said.
Once she and the captain arrived onto the vessel they realized that the male occupant was not aboard. Moments later, they found him near the vessel, floating face down in the water. He was retrieved and brought onto the vessel where CPR was administered on the way back to Honokohau Harbor.
Around 11 a.m., medics transported the victim to Kona Community Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead, according to the department.
The Hawaii Police Department said that an investigation is continuing and an autopsy and coroner’s inquest has been initiated.
Haupert declined to comment.