Police: Two Recent Deaths Caused By Heart Attacks

Big Island police have released updates on the cause of death in three cases dating back to early June.

In the most recent case, in which a 71-year-old woman from Flour Mound, Texas became unresponsive while snorkeling with a tour group off the Kohala coast June 26, the cause of death was classified as being related to drowning.

Capt. Aimee Wana of the South Kohala district said the coroner’s report on Sokoon Yu said she died from asphyxia due to accidental drowning.

As for the possible drowning of Paul S. Tsang who was swimming June 13 off the Mauna Lani resort, an autopsy determined that the 50-year-old San Francisco resident died from cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest was also found to be the cause of death in the third case, involving a 49-year-old Kawaihae man found dead by a co-worker on the roof of a Waimea home.  Barry Bokmej had been pressure-washing the roof before succumbing to the heart attack.