Rescuer drowns at Larsen’s Beach

MOLOA‘A — A 19-year-old Kapa‘a resident diving Sunday evening at Larsen’s Beach drowned after helping to save a friend, county officials said.

Paramedics pronounced John Moises dead at the scene.

Moises and two 18-year-old friends were diving around 5:40 p.m. when they drifted outside the reef and became caught in the current, a county news release states.

One of the young men swam to nearby rocks and hung on as Moises helped his other friend climb onto the rocks.

The two teens tried to help Moises scramble to safety on the rocks, but Moises’ leg got stuck between underwater boulders, the press release states.

Unable to break free, Moises was swept out to sea by a large wave.

Princeville resident Tai Heen saw the teens in distress and called 911.

First to respond were Hanalei firefighters Makali‘i Andrade and Adam Hussey.

Heen directed the firefighters to the exact location of the victims and the two swam out with rescue tubes.

Moises was found unconscious with major injuries 40 yards offshore.

Andrade and Hussey brought in the injured swimmer and his friends, and Moises could not be resuscitated.

The two friends sustained minor injuries, but did not require hospitalization.

The last death reported at Larsen’s Beac h was June 27, when authorities recovered the body of Roy Overstreet, 42, of Bellingham, Wash.

• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com.