A fishing boat has found a small boat, the Umade Maru, drifting with its engine off close to Okanami Island west of Nishizaki in Itoman City, the boat’s owner lying dead in the bow.

The 11^th Regional Japanese Coast Guard responded to the distress call with a patrol boat, and found the owner, 81-year-old Seiichi Higa, face down.  He was immediately transported to a hospital by Tomigusuku City Fire Department ambulance shortly after being transported to shore, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Coast Guard says Higa had left his home at 3 p.m. October 21^st, the day before, with an announcement he was going fishing.  Higa’s body had no injury marks, according to investigators at 11^th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. They say they think Higa died as a result of sudden illness, or of natural causes.

• 
• NO DATA