Be careful out there.
Pay attention.
Be alert.
Be prepared.
Don’t swim alone.
Swim in lifeguarded areas.
That’s some of the advice we offer if you’re headed out to the water. And we say this because it can be dangerous, and it often is dangerous, and we don’t want anyone to be caught in a situation that endangers their life.
Now, we don’t know all the circumstances of these incidents, but there have been four deaths in the last six weeks.
Here’s a look at what happened recently:
w A male visitor died while snorkeling in waters off Pu‘u Poa Beach in Princeville on Monday morning.
He was identified as Joseph Nesselroth, 64, of Colorado.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m., Hanalei firefighters were notified of an unresponsive snorkeler being brought to shore on Pu‘u Poa Beach.
According to a preliminary investigation, the man was snorkeling with his fiancé and a tour group when he became distressed about 20 yards from shore. His fiancé called out for help and bystanders nearby went into the water to respond. They brought the unresponsive man to shore, where they began administering CPR.
Once on scene, firefighters took over the effort, but attempts to resuscitate the victim were unsuccessful. Responding medics transported the Colorado man to Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
w A 46-year-old Kauai man, Daymion Brown, died while snorkeling in waters off Wailua.
Two golfers near the 18th hole of Wailua Golf Course called 911 shortly before 1:30 p.m. when they heard cries for help coming from the beach area nearby.
According to a preliminary investigation, one of the golfers, a 71-year-old Kauai man, saw a male snorkeler in distress about 50 yards from shore. The man quickly swam out in an attempt to help the snorkeler. However, he also became distressed and in need of assistance.
Shortly after being notified, lifeguards from the Lydgate Park tower arrived first on scene and brought the 71-year-old distressed swimmer safely to shore. Awaiting medics transported him to Wilcox Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
Kauai Fire Department’s Lihue rescue responders aboard the county helicopter soon arrived on scene to assist with locating the remaining distressed snorkeler. Rescuers found the man unresponsive in the water and brought him to shore, where they began administering CPR. He could not be revived.
w A 26-year-old man visiting from Germany died in waters off Anahola.
According to a preliminary investigation, the man was surfing in waters off Anahola Beach, fronting the area known as Kumu Camp, when he lost his board and became distressed in a series of waves shortly before 10:30 a.m.
Lifeguards responded and pulled the unresponsive man to shore, where they began administering CPR. Lifeguards, along with firefighters dispatched to the scene, continued resuscitation efforts until the man was transferred to responding medics. He was transported to Wilcox Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
w A male visitor died after jumping off the rocks at Ho‘opi‘i Falls in Kapahi. He was identified as John Daniel St. John, 52, of Georgia.
According to a preliminary investigation, St. John was with friends at Ho‘opi‘i Falls when he jumped into the water and became unresponsive. His friends retrieved him from the water, called 911, and began administering CPR.
Firefighters and medics were dispatched to the scene about 2:10 p.m. Upon their arrival, they found St. John about 100 feet downstream from the falls with apparent injuries to his head. The first responders took over CPR efforts, but the man could not be revived.
Each of these deaths is a loss to the friends and the families of the victims. For those who knew them, the loss of life is tragic. There are broken hearts and shattered lives left behind. We want to do all we can to prevent any more.
So we urge you, please be careful out there.
