MENDOCINO, California (3 Apr 2007) -- A 55-year-old Tracy man died Sunday while diving off the Mendocino Coast, authorities said. Jack Joseph Tuso was in the water, preparing to scuba dive in Mendocino Bay when his diving companion noticed he was motionless and floating face down, said Sheriff's Capt. Kevin Broin. "They were in the water for only a few minutes," he said. Tuso, who had 15 years of experience diving, had a heart condition that may have contributed to his death, Broin said. He'd had a heart attack two years ago, said his friend and diving companion, Nate Rupert of Lodi. An autopsy to determine the cause of death was scheduled this morning. Tuso had no pulse when Rupert found him, said Mendocino Fire Department Chief Danny Hervilla. The two men were diving off the Mendocino headlands, south of the town of Mendocino. Rupert began resuscitation efforts while pulling him to some nearby rocks and was able to get a pulse, Broin said. Bystanders, who could see the men were having trouble, called for help at 3:50 p.m., said Mendocino Fire Chief Danny Hervilla. When firefighters arrived, Tuso had a pulse, Hervilla said. They continued CPR, placed him on a stretcher and, using a fire truck pulley, lifted him up the cliff to a waiting ambulance. | | Tuso was pronounced dead at 4:52 p.m., Broin said. Tuso loved hunting and diving and traveled extensively in pursuit of his hobbies, Rupert said. "Wherever he could hunt or dive, he did. He's been all over the world," he said. He regularly dived off the Mendocino Coast, Rupert said. Tuso, an almond rancher, was unmarried and had no children, he said. He has a brother in Tracy and a sister in Santa Rosa, Rupert said. SOURCE - The Press DemocratSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba ForumCDNN Related NewsCALIFORNIA - Search called off for missing underwater photographer |
