Geoduck diver dies - Hood Canal, WA

[DandyDon]

From Geoduck Diver Drowns After Suffering Heart Attack

A Shelton man who died March 18 after he was brought ashore unresponsive from a geoduck harvesting operation in Hood Canal drowned after suffering a heart attack. Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell says 48 year old Daniel Kelley of Shelton had been harvesting geoduck in 14 feet of water off of Ayock Beach for his employer, Sunset Beach Oyster Company. His co-workers realized Kelley was not responding to their signals, so they pulled Kelley out of the water and began CPR, then transported him by boat to Ayock beach where they met an ambulance. Kelley was transported to Mason General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Stockwell said an autopsy and toxicology testing revealed that Kelley had pre-existing conditions that may have led to the heart attack. Stockwell added concerns had been expressed about Kelley being affected by carbon monoxide but toxicology testing confirmed that carbon monoxide was not a factor. Mason County Sheriff and OSHA are still investigating the death.