A 22-year-old man was the victim of a drowning incident while spearfishing off of Hidden Beach on January 3rd, Department of Public Safety said in a release.
According to DPS they responded to a call regarding a drowning along Route 36 in Talofofo at around 8:55 a.m.
The release states DPS launched its BSS Impact Boat from Smiling Cove at 9:18 a.m. and began a pattern search alongside a U.S. Coast Guard HSC 25 helicopter at around 10:33 a.m.
The victim was discovered unresponsive, removed from the water, and immediately transported to Smiling Cove. From that point he was brought to the Commonwealth Health Care Clinic.
According to the victim’s fishing companion, the two had decided to go fishing, and started at 8:00 a.m. They arrived at Hidden Beach and proceeded to spearfish.
The witness states that after 30 to 45 minutes, he surfaced and noticed thevictim’s speargun was floating. The witness said his partner was nowhere in sight.
The witness proceeded to free dive back down in the water and observed the victim’s body moving down to the sea floor. He attempted to retrieve the victim and pull him out off the water, but the ocean conditions were too strong.
He proceeded to swim to shore alone because he could not retrieve the victim and then called DPS.
