Bristol Man, 42, Dies after Diving Rescue

Friends and family of Kenneth Watkinson, 42, of Bristol, are in mourning after he died while diving in the waters off Rumstick Point on Friday.

Watkinson, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, was pulled from the water by rescuers and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:53 a.m.

The state Department of Environmental Management’s law enforcement division is handling the investigation and the state Medical Examiner will determine a cause of death, according to a DEM release.

The DEM, Bristol Police and Fire Departments and members of the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force responded to the waters off Rumstick Point after an 8:41 a.m. call for a diver in distress.

Watkinson’s parents told ABC6 that he is an experienced diver and was diving with a friend who became concerned when he didn’t surface.

Watkinson was a highly-regarded correctional officer at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston and led the Rhode Island Department of Corrections annual memorial march and wreath laying as the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers’ piper.

Memorial services are to be announced.

Friends and fellow correctional officers, in comments on a RIBCO Facebook post notifying members of the sad news, remembered Watkinson as a genuinely great human being. And good at growing giant pumpkins.

“Kenny was a great officer and an even better man,” said Joey Angelone. “You will always be missed and always be in our hearts Kenny.”