KAPA‘A — The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Friday night that they had located and rescued a distressed snorkeler off Kealia Beach.
KAPA‘A — The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Friday night that they had located and rescued a distressed snorkeler off Kealia Beach.
The Wailua man was in good condition as of 7:10 p.m. Friday, USCG said.
He was reported to be in distress around 5:30 p.m., triggering a response from USCG and county agencies.
According to the USCG, the man was either caught in a current or drifted too far from shore, and began struggling to get back in.
Kaua‘i Police Department, Kaua‘i Fire Department, and two helicopters were been dispatched to the scene, in what became a 90-minute search effort.
He was discovered by a USCG small boat about a mile and a half off-shore and was transported to Nawiliwili harbor.
“If he keeps going out, the bigger the search area and the longer it takes to find him,” said Kaua‘i U.S. Coast Guard Station Chief Petty Officer Timothy Elhajj. “It’s paramount that we got him as quickly as possible.”
