HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUNA DISTRICT
LIEUTENANT DEXTER CHAVES
PHONE: 966-5835
JUNE 3, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

An autopsy performed Friday (June 2, 2006) confirmed that drowning was the cause of death for a 21-year-old man who died Thursday (June 1) after swimming in a Puna hot pond.

The swimmer was identified as Henry Wagner of Hilo.

Puna patrol officers responded to a 3:30 p.m. call that a swimmer had failed to surface while swimming under water at “Champagne Pond” in the Kapoho Beach Lots subdivision. Witnesses said several swimmers had been challenging each other to see how long they could remain under water.

Wagner was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The autopsy results indicated he blacked out in shallow water and drowned.