HILO, Hawaii (15 Jan 2007) -- The search for a missing diver has intensified off the coast of the Big Island. Mitchel Hodgson has been missing since Sunday afternoon after he went into the water at Kehena Beach. The Coast Guard and the Hawaii County Fire Department decided Monday afternoon to expand the search area to cover about 130 square miles along the southeast coast of the island. Hodgson, a 25-year-old living in the Paradise Park area, went into the water to go spear fishing. "Him and a buddy went diving yesterday afternoon and he was last seen at about 3:30 in the afternoon," said Hodgson's wife, Heather. "They had a rally point they were supposed to meet at and they didn't meet at the rally point so his buddy came in and searched for him on the beach." According to HCFD, the experienced waterman complained of discomfort before venturing into the ocean. "Before going out, the missing party started complaining about having an earache. So his partner talked to him and I guess he though he was okay," said HCFD Capt. Clint Coloma. Hodgson's diving partner got back and couldn't find him. When it started getting dark, he called 911. Two choppers and a C-130 were scanning from the sky. Four divers and a rescue boat are searching in the water. "They did a drift analysis and they placed the person if he was drifting southwest of here, about 8-10 miles southwest and a mile out," said Coloma. Hodgson's wife calls the man a survivor. "We just ask everyone to pray for him. We have an 11-day-old son, so hopefully he's found," she said. "We have really high hopes because he himself is a master scuba diver. He's rescue dive certified. He's an eagle scout." | | Two Coast Guard Dolphin choppers, a C-130 and rescue boats are searching for missing diver Mitchel Hodgson. That's why she's holding out hope that her husband will be found alive. "I'm holding up okay. I have to stay positive," she said. "There's no reason to panic. It doesn't do any good." The Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, which is home ported in Hilo, has also been called in to aid the search. The visibility in the search waters is being called poor. SOURCE - KGMB |
