Coast Guard, Sheriff's respond to unconscious diver

SAN PEDRO, Calif. The Coast Guard and Ventura County Sheriffs Department responded to a mayday call from a commercial passenger vessel after a 59-year-old woman surface unconscious near Anacapa Island, California, Sept. 28, 2012. The passenger vessel Spectre sent out a mayday call over marine radio at about 10:18 a.m., stating that the female diver had come to the surface unconscious after about 15 minutes of diving. A crewman onboard the Spectre immediately began administering CPR. The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles and a 41-foot Utility boat from Station Channel Islands Harbor. A Ventura County Sheriffs helicopter arrived on-scene and lowered a Ventura County paramedic onboard and continued administering CPR. After continuing CPR for nearly an hour and attempting to defibrillate several times, the paramedic were unable to gain a response from the victim. The Coast Guard utility boat brought the woman and her husband back to shore where they were met by members of the Ventura County Coroners Office.