Dead abalone hunter identified

The Mendocino County coroner's office has identified the man who died while hunting for abalone along Mendocino County's south coast Thursday morning as Larry Hashigami, 64, of Sacramento.

The cause of death has not been determined.

Hashigami had been diving for abalone with a friend in a cove near Point Arena when he died.

The friend said they stopped diving and were walking on rocks on their way back to the Arena Cove parking area when he lost sight of his friend.

He located him in the water.

Sheriff's Lt. Rusty Noe said an autopsy scheduled this week is expected to reveal whether Hashigami died from drowning or from a cardiac-related problem.

Hashigami is the third person to die this year while hunting for abalone on the North Coast.

Seven people died last year while hunting for abalone.

-- Glenda Anderson