A tourist in Hawaii has died after being swept out to sea at a Kaua’i beach on Tuesday.
First responders were dispatched to Kauapea Beach in Kīlauea, also known as Secret Beach, around 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday regarding an “unresponsive swimmer,” according to a news release by the Kauai Police Department.
Bystanders first attempted CPR on the victim, a 62-year-old man from New York, before the Kaua’i Fire Department (KFD) and the Hanalei Fire Station crew took over using an automated external defibrillator and a Lucas device in an attempt to resuscitate the man.
KFD staff transported the victim to medics who administered “advanced resuscitation efforts,” the police department stated. He was then taken to the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the press release, foul play is not suspected, but an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death is pending.
“Kauapea Beach is not a lifeguarded beach and the public is urged to use caution if getting in the water,” the police department said. “However, officials strongly recommend only swimming at beaches that have lifeguards.”
17-Year-Old Kayaker Rescued
In a separate incident, a teen kayaker stranded at sea for more than 11 hours off Oahu’s southern shore was returned safely to his family on Thursday morning after being rescued by an off-duty lifeguard and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders were alerted by Honolulu Fire Department staff at 7:27 p.m. on Wednesday that 17-year-old Kahiau Kawai had been separated from his high school paddling team approximately one-half mile south of Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, according to a press release by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Kawai had reportedly capsized on a 20-foot surf ski kayak and was not wearing a life jacket, the release stated.
At around 4 a.m., a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft crew spotted Kawai clinging to his Kayak, having drifted offshore around the War Memorial Natatorium. They marked his location with flares and directed a nearby off-duty lifeguard with the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department to rescue the teen from the water.
The lifeguard was identified as Noland Keaulana at a Thursday press conference. Keaulana said he had searched around 100 miles by boat and happened to be nearby when he was “hailed over” by the helicopter.
Officials said Kawai had lost his paddle and used his surf ski high-performance kayak as a kickboard to stay close to shore despite the strong current, thus staying in sight of search crews.
“I went to the flare and they gave me more direction and we were able to find the boy and when I approached him, I saw the kayak, I saw his head above water. And I was so stoked to see that he was alive,” Keaulana said.
“While it is rare to find people after 11 and a half to 12 hours, it’s obviously not impossible,” said Lieutenant Commander Nic Iannarone, the mission’s search and rescue coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard. “If you’re going out, pay attention to the weather. Pay attention to what’s going on, the condition of the ocean.”
At around 5:25 a.m., Keaulana transported Kawai to Emergency Medical Services personnel at Ala Wai Harbor, where he was treated for serious injuries.
“They continued to keep him warm as he was experiencing hypothermia, extreme dehydration, a lot of severe cramping,” said Shayne Enright, Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesperson. “But he was awake, alert, and he was talking.”
In a statement, Kawai’s parents thanked the state, city, and federal rescue teams who were involved in the search and rescue efforts through the night, and included a “very special mahalo” to family, friends, and Keaulana, who went out on his own to search for the teen.
“Kahiau, who could see rescue teams looking for him, was strong, resilient, and brave for 11.5 hours in the dark, and is grateful to be back with his family and friends,” Ka’ala and Kelehua Kawai said in the statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.