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Honolulu medical examiner identifies snorkeler, 22, who died off Ko Olina

Rescue crews of the Honolulu Fire Department recovered the body of a 22-year-old snorkeler who was reported missing in waters in the Ko Olina area in Leeward Oahu.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office has identified him as Peter S.K. Gerges of Honolulu.

Five units with more than 15 firefighters responded to a 911 call for an overdue snorkeler just before 8:10 p.m. Sunday.

When they arrived, the caller reported the snorkeler, later identified as Gerges, was last seen swimming with a group in Lagoon 4 about two hours before the 911 call.

The caller also indicated Gerges was not a good swimmer, the fire department said.

Fire rescue crews and HFD’s Air 3 helicopter and drone scanned the shoreline and waters outside the breakwater of Lagoon 3 and Lagoon 4.

At 9 p.m., the helicopter crew spotted Gerges’ body about 50 yards off of Lagoon 4 and airlifted him to shore where he was pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Services personnel.

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