2013.05.09
Tourist dies in diving accident off Iheya Island
Koichi Mizusawa, a visitor from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, died while he was diving off Iheya Island around 3 p.m., on May 4th.
According to Nago Police investigating the incident, Mizusawa had been diving with a group of 13 people at a spot off Iheya Island, when, after surfacing, he said he felt ill, and subsequently lost consciousness.
He was immediately taken to a doctor’s office on the island, but was confirmed dead later on the same day. He had been visiting Iheya Island with his junior high school student son.
Investigators say Mizusawa and the other 13 in the group including an instructor had been diving at the area starting 2:30 p.m., and after the divers surfaced Mizusawa said to another member of the group that he felt ill, then fell unconscious.
Nago police is investigating the incident. A judicial autopsy is also being performed to determine the cause of death.