A couple was swept out to sea yesterday morning in front of the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, according to county spokeswoman Mary Daubert.
At 10:45 a.m., a 31-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman from New York were rescued by two lifeguards from the Po‘ipu tower.
The lifeguards rode out on a Jet Ski after they found the couple in trouble and brought them safely back to shore. No medical attention was needed.
Later yesterday, two male visitors, a father and son, were swimming at ‘Anini Beach at around 5 p.m when they encountered difficulties.
The son was on a body board and the father was not when the two became separated. The son managed to make it back to shore, but the father was pulled out into the big channel at the far end of ‘Anini Beach, Daubert said.
Bystanders on the beach saw the man struggling to return to shore and called 911. Firefighters from the Hanalei station responded. A firefighter paddled out on a rescue board and brought the man safely to shore. The man refused medical treatment and was released at the scene, she said.
Officials with the Ocean Safety Bureau are reminding the public of strong, turbulent rip currents, particularly along the south- and west-facing shores. Beachgoers are advised to go to Eastside beaches where conditions are safer, such as Kalapaki, Kealia, Lydgate and Anahola.
Rough ocean conditions on south- and west-facing shores were reported yesterday morning, along with sightings of jellyfish known as Portuguese man-of-war at Po‘ipu Beach, a county news release states.
High surf with rough, windy conditions has also been reported from the North Shore to the Westside, including Kekaha Beach.
A small craft advisory remains in effect through Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service says to expect widespread combined seas up to 20 feet and southwest winds up to 25 knots.
Wind waves are forecast at 11 feet with a northwest swell producing up to 18-foot surf. The swell is expected to gradually subside over the weekend.
However, a high surf advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday, with the highest surf along north- and west-facing shores.
For more information, visit www.kauaiexplorer.com, talk to a county lifeguard or contact the Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984.
To see a video of some of the ocean conditions yesterday morning on the North Shore, visit www.thegardenisland.com.
