HANALEI BAY — A Polish man, who was visiting the island of Kaua‘i, died after becoming distressed while attempting to help two swimmers in the water off the North Shore on Wednesday.
Janusz Jakubowicz, 67, was in the water west of the Hanalei Pavilion lifeguard tower when the incident happened, the County of Kaua‘i Police Department said in a statement on Thursday. The incident occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m.
In an attempt to help two swimmers, Jakubowicz found himself in distress. He then became unresponsive in the water and was brought to shore by local surfers.
“On shore, first responders with OSB (Ocean Safety Bureau) and KFD (Kaua‘i Fire Department) administered CPR,” the police department said.
“AMR (American Medical Response) personnel continued advanced lifesaving treatment on Jakubowicz while in transport to Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, but he could not be revived.”
An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death. The Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau and volunteers with Life’s Bridges, a grief counseling service, are assisting the victim’s family.
The two swimmers, who were not identified, made it safely to shore, the police department said.
The incident happened less than two weeks after a multi-agency effort to locate a missing swimmer off the North Shore was suspended on Dec. 28, 2022.
Prakash Shroff, 56, of Gilroy, California, was reported missing off ‘Anini Beach on Dec. 25, 2022, the police department said.
He was swimming with two family members shortly after 1 p.m. on Dec. 25, when they found themselves in distress. While the two family members were able to make it back to shore with the assistance of bystanders, Shroff could not be located.
The two swimmers, who made it back to shore, were treated by paramedics on-scene and released. Shroff is being listed as the 12th drowning victim of the year in Kaua‘i.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
