Visitor Dies of Apparent Drowning in Waters Off Wainiha Bay

The Kaua‘i Police Department reports that a visitor from the mainland died of an apparent drowning during the weekend.

A news release from police says a 28-year-old man died Saturday morning after being pulled from waters off Wainiha Bay on Friday evening.

At about 5:30 p.m. Friday, first responders were dispatched to Wainiha Bay for a swimmer in distress. According to a preliminary report, the man was bodyboarding when he lost his board and was swept out into deeper water.

Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel from the Hanalei fire station, Rescue 3 personnel from Līhu‘e and ocean safety officers with the North Roving Patrol Unit responded to the scene. Ocean safety officers found the unresponsive man face down in the water and brought him to shore. They immediately began to administer CPR until AMR medics arrived on scene and took over advanced resuscitation efforts.

AMR medics continued efforts while transporting the man to Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapaʻa. The police news release says the 28-year-old regained a pulse briefly but needed further treatment. He was in critical condition and transported to Wilcox Medical Center in Līhu‘e, where he died early Saturday morning.

An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death. Foul play is not suspected.