SHINE — A 42-year-old commercial diver apparently drowned Saturday when the hydraulic drill he was using tore away his air line and entangled him 50 feet under water.
A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigator identified the scuba diver as Douglas Williams of Lacey, “well-known” in the diving community as a master diver.
“I’m sure the cause of death is going to be drowning because he couldn’t get to the surface fast enough,” said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Stamper, who investigated the incident.
The county coroner will confirm the cause of death today after an autopsy is conducted, said Stamper.
Williams was using the hydraulic drill to install buoy anchors on the sea floor. The buoys are used to tether boats.
The diver was working off Hoods Head Island, just north of Hood Canal Bridge when the accident occurred.
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