Unknown 2011-01-12
Commercial diver dies off fishing tender near Metlakatla,
The Associated Press, Published: January 13th, 2011
JUNEAU -- The Coast Guard is investigating the death of a commercial diver off a
boat near Annette Island in Southeast Alaska.
The crew of the 68-foot fishing tender Island Dancer told investigators that the
diver surfaced at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, took off his mask and immediately sank.
A Coast Guard spokesman says the crew reported pulling the diver out of the water
using the air hose and immediately providing first aid.
Metlakatla police reported the incident to the Coast Guard at 2:30 p.m. and two
Ketchikan-based investigators flew to the community to begin the investigation.
The Island Dancer crew was fishing for sea cucumbers in Chester Bay.
Metlakatla is a community of 1,500 on the west coast of Annette Island about 15
miles south of Ketchikan.