The Hawai’i Police Department, along with the Hawai’i Fire Department, responded to a 2:05 p.m. call Saturday (September 12) of an apparent drowning in waters off Kona International Airport.

The victim, who was reported to be picking opihi, was spotted face down and motionless in the water about 25 yards off shore. Fire Department divers placed the victim in a net suspended from the Fire Department’s helicopter and brought him ashore, where ground units attempted to revive him.

The victim, identified as 44-year-old David Kawika Magallanes of Kailua-Kona, was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 3:30 p.m.

Police have initiated a coroners inquest case. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.