Boy, 15, drowns at Sugar Dock

A 15-year-old Korean boy reportedly drowned while spearfishing at Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa yesterday afternoon.

Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde said that DFEMS and Department of Public Safety Boating Section Unit personnel found the boy’s body floating in the channel late yesterday afternoon.

Gersonde said the boy and a male friend were spearfishing at Sugar Dock at 1pm. The two agreed to meet at 2:30pm. When the victim did not show up at that time, his friend decided to call 911.

DPS Boating Section Unit and DFEMS personnel then did a search and rescue operation.

Police are still investigating the incident.

The victim had just graduated from middle school at Saipan Community School, Saipan Tribune learned.

Last May 4, a 71-year-old Korean man drowned while swimming at the beach of Kensington in San Roque, while a 50-year-old Japanese man also drowned while scuba diving at Laulau Bay.

Last Jan. 26, 53-year-old Isidro Wabol, who had been swimming, was later found dead outside the reef at Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa.