PO‘IPU — A male visitor died while snorkeling in the water off Po‘ipu Beach Park, authorities said.
PO‘IPU — A male visitor died while snorkeling in the water off Po‘ipu Beach Park, authorities said.
Leonard Boteilho, of Riverton, Utah, was found unresponsive in the water on Thursday morning, April 13, 2023.
“According to a preliminary report, shortly before 10:35 a.m. on Thursday, bystanders noticed an unresponsive snorkeler in waters off the west end of Po‘ipu Beach Park,” the Kaua‘i Police Department said in a statement.
“Bystanders in the water brought the man to shore where they began administering CPR. OSB (Ocean Safety Bureau) personnel at the Po‘ipu Beach lifeguard tower were notified and took over CPR efforts once on-scene.
“According to witness reports, the victim had been snorkeling for approximately 15 minutes and did not show signs of distress before being pulled from the water.”
American Medical Response personnel then arrived on-scene and continued advanced lifesaving treatment on the swimmer, while he was transported to Wilcox Medical Center in Lihu‘e. Boteilho died at the medical center.
An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death.
