KOLOA — A Colorado resident died after being pulled from the water off Allerton Beach on Friday, marking the second time in as many days that a visitor died on the island of Kaua‘i.
The incident happened about 1 p.m., the Kaua‘i Fire Department (KFD) said. The victim, who was identified as a 69-year-old man, struck his head on a rock while boogie boarding in South Shore.
“Kauai Fire Department personnel with the Koloa fire station and AMR (American Medical Response) medics responded to the scene,” the KFD said.
“With assistance from Allerton Garden security, firefighters and medics extricated the man out of the remote location to awaiting AMR medics who provided advanced life support. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the man was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.”
An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death. Volunteers with Life’s Bridges, a grief counseling service, were contacted to offer support to the victim’s family.
The incident happened two days after a 20-year-old female visitor from Idaho died after being pulled from the water off Lumaha‘i Beach on Wednesday afternoon.
The Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) said the incident happened at approximately 3 p.m., at which time first responders were dispatched to the area.
“According to a preliminary report, the victim had been swimming when she was suddenly swept out into deeper water. Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel with the Kaiakea fire station, Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 and Ocean Safety Bureau (OSB) lifeguards with the North Roving Patrol Unit responded to the incident,” the KPD said.
“Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 located the unresponsive woman in the water at approximately 3:10 p.m. She was brought to shore by OSB personnel. Rescuers immediately began to administer CPR until AMR (American Medical Response) medics arrived on scene and took over advanced resuscitation efforts.”
The woman, whose name was not released, was then taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihu‘e where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death, but foul play is not suspected.