Visitor rescued at Kealia Beach

KEALIA — A visitor was pulled out of the water at Kealia Beach Thursday morning.

Rescue personnel responded to a 29-year-old man from Santa Cruz, Calif., who apparently suffered a seizure while boogey boarding, according to county spokesperson Mary Daubert. Lifeguards brought the visitor to shore at approximately 9:55 a.m. and performed CPR to restore his breathing.

Firefighters from the Kaiakea station also responded. They placed the visitor on a long board and prepped him using spinal precautions. He was then brought to an ambulance and medics took over.

Medics transported the visitor to Wilcox Hospital where he is currently in the intensive care unit, according to Daubert.

The man had been boogey boarding with friends about 150 yards from the shore in an area known as “Broccoli Trees” when the incident occurred.

The lifeguards quickly responded when they spotted the man’s board floating upside down in a manner that indicated that a person was likely attached to it by its leash, but was underwater.