A beginner scuba diver drowned Sunday off the coast of Hoodsport while attempting to get certified in open water diving.
At around 9:51 a.m., 911 dispatchers received a call saying that a scuba diver was pulling another diver toward the Hoodsport dock and shouting for someone to call 911.
A release from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office gave this account of the incident:
Sheriff’s deputies, Fire Rescue/Aid and EMS responded to the dock where CPR was in progress. Medical personnel on scene were unsuccessful in their attempts to resuscitate the diver.
An investigation revealed that the victim was a beginner scuba diver attempting to receive an “open water” dive certification and was diving with trained and certified diving instructors. Reports state that while submerged, the diver began to experience trouble and was brought to the surface by a diving instructor.
Investigating deputies observed all of the man’s scuba diving gear, did not see any signs of foul play and the preliminary investigation appears that this was a diving accident.
The Mason County Coroner’s Office was able to make immediate family notifications and released the name of the victim as 51-year-old Timothy Burns from Lyons, Oregon.
An investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
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