KAHULUI - A 48-year-old Haiku man died after he was found unresponsive and submerged in the ocean Saturday afternoon while free diving at Kanaha Beach Park, officials said.
Police identified the diver as William Borges Jr.
He had been diving since 8 a.m. with two friends on the Paia end of the beach, said Maui police spokesman Lt. Wayne Ibarra. After about three hours, the friends emerged from the water, not knowing whether Borges had already returned to shore, Ibarra said. He said the friends checked Borges' vehicle and couldn't find him.
After about an hour, the friends saw Borges' orange float about 200 yards offshore and alerted a lifeguard, who went by personal watercraft to retrieve Borges, Ibarra said. He said Borges was about 15 feet underwater and still tethered to his diving buoy.
Borges was brought to shore, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started, said Maui County Paramedics Association spokesman Ryan Joslin.
Arriving on scene at 1 p.m., Medic 1 from Wailuku took over care of the patient, starting advanced cardiac life support measures, Joslin said. He said the man was transported in critical condition to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he later died.
A Kahului fire engine company also responded to the beach.
* This article includes a correction from the original published on Sunday, August 12, 2012. William Borges Jr., 48, of Haiku died after he was found unresponsive and submerged in the ocean Saturday afternoon while free diving at Kanaha Beach Park. A story published on Page A7 misspelled his name due to information provided by police.
