CBP officer drowns while spear fishing

A search and rescue team recovered yesterday morning the body of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who was reported missing Sunday night while spear fishing with two friends at Obyan Beach in the southern shores of Saipan.

The Department of Public Safety withheld the victim’s name pending notification of next of kin.

Saipan Tribune learned from sources that the victim is a CBP officer based in Guam and assigned on Saipan.

Police officer Jason Tarkong said a search team spotted the victim’s body at about 9:20am, floating in the ocean some 200 yards outside the reef off Coral Ocean Point.

The rescue boat arrived at Smiling Cove Marina around 10am and transported the body of the 30-year-old victim to the Commonwealth Health Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Tarkong said that a 911 operator sent police and fire units to Obyan Beach on Sunday at 10:15pm after receiving a call about a missing swimmer.

Police learned that the victim had gone fishing with his two friends but got stuck outside the reef. The victim attempted several times to enter the small channel but was unsuccessful. His friends made it back to shore and called for help.

Officers and personnel from DPS Boating Safety, Commonwealth Ports Police, and NMI Fish and Wildlife immediately conducted water searches. DPS Fire’s Search and Rescue Unit, along with EMO and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, helped search the cliffline and shoreline on foot.

A U.S. Navy helicopter also joined the search throughout the evening into daybreak.

This is the fourth drowning incident in the CNMI this year. All incidents happened on Saipan.

On March 6, a 76-year-old Japanese male tourist drowned while swimming with three friends at a beach near Hyatt Regency Saipan and Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan. A strong current reportedly pulled the victim from the sandbar located in front of Hyatt.

On April 16, a female Chinese tourist drowned on Managaha Islands as she and companions were exiting the water to head back to shore.

On April 23, a 4-year-old girl passed away at the Commonwealth Health Center after a near-drowning incident at the Pacific Islands Club’s pool two days before.

There was only one drowning incident reported last year. The son of the B&R Auto Shop owner drowned while scuba diving with friends at Lau Lau Beach in April 2011.