The body of a woman was found floating Saturday morning on the reef at Kalihikai, between Kalihiwai Bay and Anini Beach.
Late Saturday afternoon Kaua’i Fire Department personnel removed the body of a woman presumed drown at Kipu Falls.
The identify of the woman and the cause of death of the North Shore victim were unknown Saturday at press time. The woman, who looked to be in her mid-30s and was fully dressed and wearing jewelry, was brought back to shore by beachgoers between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., according to Kaua’i Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Kaden.
The body was initially spotted by a visitor driving on Anini Road, and a county dispatcher was called, Kaden said.
There were reports the surf would reach heights of 18 to 20 feet Saturday morning, and had it not been for bystanders who swam out from shore and brought her body back to shore, the body could have been carried out to sea by strong currents, Kaden said.
Attempts to revive the woman were made by bystanders and firefighters and medical personnel with the American Medical Response, but the efforts were futile.
“She had been in the water for a quite a while. We are thinking all evening,” Kaden said. “It looked like rigor mortis was setting in.”
Kaden said it was his understanding that the body was transported to Wilcox Hospital by personnel from a Kaua’i mortuary.
The Kipu Falls incident was reported at about 5:35 p.m. Saturday, when a call came in that a swimmer was in distress at the remote waterfall located on private land south of Lihu’e.
Kaden said Engine 3 and Rescue 3 out of the Lihu’e fire station responded and arrived at 5:50 p.m.
He said the rescuers found the unresponsive body of a 22-year-old female, University of Hawai’i student from California underwater in the pool at the falls.
The student was apparently visiting Kaua’i with a friend, swung on a rope at the falls and ended up underwater.
The rescuers found the body at about 6:08 p.m.
Kaden said the victim at Kipu Falls sustained a wound under her chin.
Because of the steep terrain at the falls the firefighters had to hook up a rope system and haul her up a cliff about 30 feet high.
Kaua’i Hospice has been called in by Kaua’i Fire Department to help in notification of her family.
The body was taken to the morgue at Wilcox Memorial Hospital by a local mortuary. An autosy may be done to determine the cause of death.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
TGI Editor Chris Cook contributed to this report.
