Lydgate drowning victim identified

LYDGATE — The 65-year-old New York man who drowned in waters off Lydgate Beach Saturday afternoon has been identified as David Nichols.

According to police, Nichols had been swimming with his daughter in a part of the beach known as Kitchens, near the Wailua Golf Course. His daughter swam in but she became concerned for her father’s welfare and called 911 for assistance at 3:25 p.m.

Firefighters from the Kapa‘a station were en route to the scene when nearby lifeguards on an ATV located the man’s body floating roughly 25 yards from shore. A lifeguard swam out and brought the man to shore where awaiting firefighters immediately performed CPR. An Automated External Defibrillator was applied but no shock was advised.  

Lihu‘e medics then continued CPR while transporting Nichols to the Wilcox Hospital Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead.

Nichols’ family, who was with him on-island, is being assisted by Life’s Bridges grief counseling service, county officials said.

This is the fourth reported ocean drowning on Kaua‘i already this year.

There were only two ocean drownings in all of 2012.

The county also reported that a 71-year-old woman from Colorado drowned off Po‘ipu Beach on Wednesday.

The woman, whose identity has not yet been confirmed by police, was found floating face-down by bystanders, county officials said.  At 11:49 a.m., Police Dispatch received a call of a woman in distress.

Bystanders pulled her from the water and began CPR until rescuers arrived, county officials said.  

Lifeguards applied an AED but no shock was advised. Koloa firefighters continued CPR until medics took over and transported the woman to Wilcox Hospital where she was later pronounced dead, according to the county.

Rescue officials urge the public to ask questions of lifeguards, or those who are knowledgeable of the area, before entering the water.

They also ask the public to always heed posted warning signs and ocean advisories.