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Man drowns at Sugar dock
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Posted on Mar 25 2019
A 50-year-old man being described as a “local male” drowned outside the reef by the Sugar Dock over the weekend.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the man was declared dead on arrival at the Commonwealth Health Center. He was found face down in the open ocean outside the reefs near Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa.
The victim was reportedly spearfishing early on Friday with a partner and drifted too far out and did not return.
Police received a call about a possible drowning outside the reef of Sugar Dock on Friday, at 11:20am.
At 11:34am, CNMI DPS Boating safety launched its rescue boat. At about 11:49am, DPS Boating Safety came upon an individual who was floating face down. They lifted him aboard the rescue vessel.
The victim was brought to the Sugar Dock Marina at 12:01pm, where medics transported the individual to CHC where doctors pronounced the victim dead upon arrival.
DPS Boating Safety later learned that the victim began fishing at about 9am with a partner who he had instructed to wait for him in the shallows as he went into deeper waters.
When the victim did not return, his fishing partner decided to wait on shore as the waters had gotten rough.
After waiting for some time, the victim’s fishing partner proceeded to ask bystanders to assist him in his search for the victim and to call 911.
CNMI DPS Boating Safety wants to remind individuals who practice spearfishing and free-diving to always dive with a partner and to be aware of the dangers of shallow water blackout.
Divers should practice safe fishing by monitoring water conditions before going out to sea and if something wrong is suspected, do not hesitate to call 911.
The local male is the second reported drowning of the year. The first was the drowning of Eiki Akiyama, a 22-year-old Japanese male and well-known YouTube star, who was pronounced dead on Jan. 1, 2019, at 2:55pm after drowning off Bird Island.
