BY The Olympian

A 38-year-old Olympia man drowned while diving with a friend near Sunnyside Beach in Steilacoom, police chief Bob Drozynski said today.

Alan Kaschube and a friend were diving at about 6:30 p.m. about 1,000 feet off shore at a depth of between 70 and 80 feet when he reportedly started experiencing distress. His friend helped him to the surface and called for help.

Medics administered aid, and he was taken to St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood Saturday evening.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner's office has concluded that the death was an accident and that the official cause was a salt water drowning.

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