A Bayshore Towers condominium resident said police and fire rescue personnel used his 12th floor lanai to coordinate the Monday evening recovery of a man’s body in Hilo Bay.
A Bayshore Towers condominium resident said police and fire rescue personnel used his 12th floor lanai to coordinate the Monday evening recovery of a man’s body in Hilo Bay.
Bill Lindsay said he spotted the body floating about 200 yards offshore and called 911 at about 6:25 p.m.
“It was totally nude,” Lindsay, who used binoculars to confirm the sighting, said. “The body was about 200 yards or so offshore when I called. By the time the police got here, it was halfway to the green buoy (parallel to the breakwall) out there. And that was my urgency.”
Lindsay said responders came quickly and two police officers and a firefighter used his lanai to keep track of the body. He said the firefighter directed the rescue boat to the victim via walkie-talkie.
“I set up a compass and took a bearing so they’d know where to go,” he said. “It was getting dark. There was a large swell, the body was bobbing up and down, and the tide was going out very quickly. Literally, four minutes later or five minutes later, it would have been pitch dark. I don’t think they would have found the body.
“Bottom line is, the best words were the two from the boat that said ‘body confirmed.’”
Police said the body was about a quarter-mile off the Wainaku coastline but still within Hilo Bay when found.
Lt. Miles Chong of the Hilo Criminal Investigations Section said the body hasn’t been identified.
“It appears to be a male Caucasian, possibly in his 50s or 60s, between 5-foot-9 and 6 feet tall, having dark brown or black hair with a beard and mustache,” Chong said.
Chong said there were no outward signs of foul play. He said he didn’t know how long the body was in the water before it was discovered, but it had begun to bloat.
“The response was tremendous by the Police Department and by the fire rescue, as well, because for them to be able to pluck that body out of the ocean … right at sunset, rainy situation, tide rolling, they definitely did a good job,” Lindsey said. “… I hope they identify the guy. I hope it wasn’t a crime. He’s somebody’s son, somebody’s possible father.”
Chong said the body was taken to Hilo Medical Center and officially pronounced dead at 8:18 p.m. He said there are no recent reports of missing people that match the body’s description.
The case is classified as a coroner’s inquest, and an autopsy was requested to determine the cause of death.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2383 or the police nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.