Person Dead, Apparent Dive Accident off Catalina Island on Sunday
Catalina’s Bay Watch Isthmus Paramedics advised Avalon Sheriff’s Station deputies at approximately 3:00 PM on Sunday, January 16, 2011, that they were responding to the area of Arrow Point near the west end of Santa Catalina Island regarding a diver in full cardiac arrest.
Through further investigation it was determined that the victim was a 61-year old White male dive student on a certification dive with his dive instructor.
The instructor explained that the victim and the instructor were ascending together, when the victim’s body went limp. The instructor brought him to the surface and immediately attempted to resuscitate the victim while swimming to their dive boat which was anchored nearby.
Dive boat personnel administered CPR for approximately twenty minutes until paramedics from Bay Watch Isthmus arrived to assist.
The victim was transported to the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber located near Two Harbors where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:39 PM by the attending Physician.
The investigation and identification of the deceased diver will be handled by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.
Press Release
Sgt. Fred Keelin
Avalon Sheriff’s Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
215 Sumner Avenue, Avalon
310-510-0174
www.lasd.org
Deputy Benjamin Grubb
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
4700 Ramona Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323) 267-4800
Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Address/Location
LASD - Avalon Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff
215 Sumner Ave
Avalon, CA 90704
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 310-510-0174