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Bystander finds body of missing diver in Punaluu

The body of a male diver reported missing Tuesday night in Punaluu was discovered by a bystander early today.

His name has yet to be released by the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office.

Honolulu Fire Spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said the diver, described to be in his early 40s, went diving with his friends about 100 yards off of Punaluu Beach Park Tuesday night. At some point, he failed to reappear.

Police said his friends searched for him and found his flashlight in the water.

The Honolulu Fire Department responded at about 10:10 p.m. and deployed its Air 1 helicopter to search for the missing diver to no avail.

The search was suspended at about 12:30 a.m. Firefighters had planned to resume their search at dawn this morning but at about 3 a.m., a bystander reported observing a body that washed ashore near the river mouth at Punaluu.

Jenkins said the body was determined to be that of the missing diver. Firefighters recovered the body.

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