Police Investigating Possible Drowning in Kona

Big Island police are investigating a possible drowning in West Hawai‘i.

According to a community message from the Hawai‘i Police Department, at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, officers responded to Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor in Kona for a report of a man who went unconscious while participating in a dive tour.

Officers determined the dive tour boat left the harbor shortly after 4 p.m. and was 50 yards from shore when one of the divers became unresponsive. CPR was administered for 45-60 minutes until the boat arrived back at the harbor. Medical personnel continued CPR on the man; however, he was still unresponsive.

The man, later identified as 64-year-old Larry Bullock of San Diego, was transported to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:33 p.m.

A coroner’s inquest was initiated and the investigation remains ongoing pending an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.