KAPA‘A — A 65-year-old Hanama‘ulu man apparently drowned while fishing Tuesday evening in Kapa‘a off the shore of Pono Kai Resort, according to eye witnesses and county officials. Anthony Viquelia was setting a fishing net in the water with two
KAPA‘A — A 65-year-old Hanama‘ulu man apparently drowned while fishing Tuesday evening in Kapa‘a off the shore of Pono Kai Resort, according to eye witnesses and county officials.
Anthony Viquelia was setting a fishing net in the water with two male friends some 300 feet off Hotel Coral Reef at around 4:45 p.m. when he started to drift away, county officials said.
After losing sight of Viquelia, his companions attempted to search for him. One then swam to shore to seek help.
Police officers, firefighters from the Kaiakea and Kapa‘a stations along with rescue specialists from the Lihu‘e fire station and Airborne Aviation responded to the scene.
An extensive search operation was established that included ground, water and aerial searches.
The man was found floating face down by a bystander in waters off Pono Kai and brought to shore, a county news release states.
Firefighters performed CPR on the victim until medics arrived and took over CPR.
Viquelia was transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
