A 62-year-old man from Kawela, Molokai, died on Saturday after an apparent drowning incident.

Molokai firefighters were called to search for a drifting boat and its operator near the Kamalo Wharf at 12:21 p.m. 

The man was last seen securing his 26-foot catamaran near Kamalo Wharf. A witness, who called for help, saw the boat drifting downwind but did not see the operator onboard. A rescue watercraft from Kaunakakai found the vessel, and a search was initiated for the missing operator.

At about 1 p.m. fire crews on a rescue watercraft found the male operator unresponsive and not breathing about 300 yards offshore. The man was brought to shore and emergency responders performed life-saving efforts. He was transported to Molokai General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.