Diver Pulled From Sea Dies at Hospital

A 27-year-old man who had been diving off Anacapa Island died Sunday after he was spotted floating face down in the water and was flown by helicopter to an area hospital.

Tab Vadon of Elk, Calif., was pronounced dead when he arrived at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

Coast Guard officials said Vadon had sailed to Anacapa with friends and was diving off the island when the accident occurred about 5 p.m. After his last dive, Vadon surfaced, began swimming toward his sea kayak, and was then seen floating face down about 100 yards from the kayak.

Companions pulled Vadon onto the boat, called the Coast Guard and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A Coast Guard helicopter from Los Angeles flew Vadon to the hospital.

Several hours earlier, the Coast Guard had towed a 41-foot cabin cruiser into Channel Islands Harbor after the vessel ran aground at Anacapa Island and began taking on a small amount of water.

Petty Officer Marc Engelbrecht said the impact caused minor damage to the hull of the pleasure boat, Kiss. Five people on board were evacuated, though they were not in great danger, he said.

Late Sunday, Coast Guard officials were called to Anacapa Island a third time when a 19-foot fishing vessel was reported overdue in returning to Channel Islands Harbor.

A couple on board had called for help on a cellular phone but were cut off while talking with a dispatcher for the California Highway Patrol.

A Coast Guard crew intercepted the boat halfway between the island and the harbor. About 15 minutes later, the fishing boat’s engine went out, and the vessel was towed in by the Coast Guard.