Three visitors drowned yesterday afternoon in separate incidents near Queen’s Bath in Princeville and Kaua‘i Sands beach in Kapa‘a, county officials said. Kaua‘i Police Capt. Alejandre Quibilan said emergency dispatch received a call regarding the Kapa‘a incident at 2:54 p.m.,
Three visitors drowned yesterday afternoon in separate incidents near Queen’s Bath in Princeville and Kaua‘i Sands beach in Kapa‘a, county officials said.
Kaua‘i Police Capt. Alejandre Quibilan said emergency dispatch received a call regarding the Kapa‘a incident at 2:54 p.m., and attempts to resuscitate the adult male victim were unsuccessful.
County spokeswoman Mary Daubert confirmed the victim was a 74-year-old Japanese visitor.
Police Dispatch received the call, notifying them of an unresponsive swimmer that was brought to shore in front of the Lae Nani, a condominium, a county news release states.
Rescue specialists from the Lihu‘e fire station and medics responded. When they arrived at the scene, bystanders were performing CPR on the man.
The first-responders took over and continued CPR en route to Wilcox Hospital, where the man was pronounced dead.
Attempts to revive two female victims pulled out of the water near Queen’s Bath after a 3:24 p.m. call were also unsuccessful.
A 33-year-old woman from Washington, D.C., and her 38-year-old sister-in-law from Parker, Colo., were walking along a ledge at Queen’s Bath when a large wave swept them out to sea, a county news release says.
One of the victim’s husbands attempted to rescue them, but the current was so strong that he returned to shore.
Firefighters from the Hanalei station and lifeguards from the Hanalei tower responded.
Two of the firefighters entered the water and swam out to retrieve one of the victims and waited until lifeguards arrived on a Jet Ski. The lifeguards were transporting the first victim when they found the second victim some 75 to 100 yards away.
Both victims were taken to the beach fronting Princeville at Hanalei, where awaiting medics transported them to Hanalei fire station. The victims were later transported to Borthwick Mortuary.
The Queen’s Bath is a natural pool carved into a lava shelf along a rocky shoreline that is most often enjoyed in the summer when the North Shore seas are calmer.
The National Weather Service announced a high surf advisory yesterday afternoon that will remain in effect until tomorrow evening.
“Surf will increase to heights of 14 to 18 feet along north and west facing shores of Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i, as well as north facing shores of O‘ahu, Moloka‘i and Maui this afternoon and evening,” the advisory says on the NWS Web site.
“A high surf advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing large breaking waves, dangerous rip currents and localized beach erosion. Stay well away from the shore break and do not swim anywhere near the surf zone.”
More information about the drownings was unavailable at press time.
