Maui County fire rescue personnel recovered the body of a fisherman who apparently drowned in the ocean near Mile Post 44 on the Hana side of Wailua.

The victim, 39, of Deer Park, Wash., told his friend that he was going fishing Wednesday, and the friend later heard someone yelling for help, firefighters said. The friend made his way down to the shore where he saw the man who sank in the water and disappeared. 

Fire rescue units responded about 3:18 p.m. and began an ocean search. Fire personnel recovered the body of a man about 200 feet offshore in about 20-25 feet of water.

The fire helicopter airlifted the body to shore about 4 p.m.