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FYI:
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25719...out-to-sea
PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) -
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Hawaii County Fire Department are searching for a 56-year-old man who was apparently swept out to sea while fishing near the Mackenzie State Recreation Area Friday night.
Bystanders say the man was swept out to sea after either slipping or being washed off by a wave. Officials say he was wearing black rain gear.
HFD and the Honolulu Command Center got the alarm around 9:40 p.m. Crews searched by helicopter, boat and in the water with dive crews.
Crews resumed search Saturday morning.
We will keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available.
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Sad,very sad and a scenario I've heard before.You can't be to careful around the ocean.I'm a fisherman,call me a sissy but I wear a co2 inflatable life vest any time I'm in the surf,not being the strongest swimmer I feel it necessary.it's never deployed and I'm still careful.I sure hope he's found alive, unfortunately chances are probably slim.
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Jim, not a sissy, but wise...here, even well above the surf, that is good to have..
I have been blasted overhead by a rogue wave when I was about 15' inland from the cliffs at HPP while walking our old neighbors dog...didn't even think about a wave hitting me, as the waves were not breaching the cliffs, & we were not really at cliffs edge.. until that wave...
Also we do know of a friend that was pulled down the cliff by a rogue wave not too far from this recent fisherman.... He was very lucky that one of his fishing buddies had learned to toss a cooler if someone is in the water, and that they had a cooler.... he was rescued...but would hate to think of the ending if there hadn't been quick thinking & an ice cooler!
punaweb link on his ordeal:
http://punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4059
ADD:Bump
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This article on Big Island Now seems to be the latest update:
http://bigislandnow.com/2014/06/08/searc...una-coast/
"A search resumed today for a fisherman missing since Friday night off the Puna coast.
The 56-year-old Hilo man was swept out to sea at about 9 p.m. after either slipping or being hit by a wave on a 10-foot cliff near the MacKenzie State Recreation Area.
Big Island Now has learned that the missing man is Arnold “Arnie” Asato, a longtime starter at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course.
Asato was fishing on the shoreline fronting Malama Flats, located on the north side of MacKenzie Park.
One of several witnesses at the scene tried unsuccessfully to pull Asato from the water.
Asato was wearing black rain gear when he disappeared.
After being notified at 9:40 p.m. Friday, the Coast Guard sent the Hilo-based cutter Kiska to the area and dispatched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu.
File photo.
The search continued on Saturday and again this morning.
The fire department has conducted an aerial search up to a half-mile offshore, while divers combed the area in front of Malama Flats. A shoreline search was conducted from Pohoiki to Kaimu Beach."
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The search continues for Hilo Muni operations golf assistant Arnie Asato, after a he slipped or was washed off of a 10 ft cliff at MacKenzie.
It is hard for many to believe how, in just an instant, everything can change... until it happens.
I hope that everyone on this forum understands how serious this ocean is, and does have some form of flotation ON YOU when by the cliffs...and remember that these cliffs can shred you on the way down....
ADDED:
KITV had a segment on the Coast Guard "Paddle Smart" stickers that are a great idea to have on each piece of floating ocean play gear that you have...
If the piece is lost, the USCG can find out if there is a missing person faster, and save time & hopefully lives.
If you would like stickers & are in Hawaii, request one for each non registered boat, surfboard, paddle, SCUBA cylinder, etc by emailing:
USCGHawaiiPacific@uscg.mil
If not in Hawaii, contact you local USCG office.
