Overview
- Greg Durocher, a 51-year-old former Colorado firefighter and founder of Safe Ride 4 Kids, began a family scuba lesson at Waiolena Beach Park on June 30.
- After roughly 38 minutes underwater, he returned to shore complaining of difficulty breathing and soon became unresponsive.
- His dive instructor and family members performed CPR until Hawai‘i Fire Department medics arrived and transported him to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
- Hawai‘i Police classified the incident as a possible drowning and initiated a coroner’s inquest on July 2 to establish the precise cause.
- The incident highlights the dangers of recreational diving and the vital role of prompt CPR and medical response in submersion emergencies.