Man, 24, dies after
jump from tour boat

A 24-year-old Japanese visitor died yesterday morning after he jumped from a whale-watching boat off Magic Island.

Dream Cruises President Mike Watson said the man deliberately jumped overboard with the boat at a standstill as passengers observed whales 125 yards away.

The incident occurred at about 10:18 a.m., according to the crew and witnesses, a company news release said.

Police have classified the incident as an unattended death. The man was unresponsive and was taken to Straub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident. A spokeswoman would not comment on any preliminary findings.

Watson said the man's family disclosed he had a history of mental illness and had attempted suicide before.

The boat captain saw the man jump onto the railing, then jump overboard, Watson said. When a crewman threw him a ring buoy, the man pushed it away, Watson said. So the captain directed a crewman to jump in and assist, and a second crewman also jumped in to help.

Watson said the man swam down into the water but was ultimately pulled back onto the vessel. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The man's mother, stepfather and brother, all visiting from Tokyo, were present when he jumped over the 42-inch railing, Watson said.

"I feel for him and for his family," he said.

This is the second accident involving a passenger of Dream Cruises in a little more than a year.

The 10-year-old company is appealing a Coast Guard citation for a Dec. 25, 2003, accident in which a 3-year-old boy was killed on a whale-watch cruise.