Police have identified the 17-year-old victim of a possible Keaau drowning as Keaau resident John Joel Nicholas Buentipo. Police have identified the 17-year-old victim of a possible Keaau drowning as Keaau resident John Joel Nicholas Buentipo. ADVERTISING Around 7:25 a.m.
Police have identified the 17-year-old victim of a possible Keaau drowning as Keaau resident John Joel Nicholas Buentipo.
Around 7:25 a.m. April 7, Hawaii County Fire Department rescue personnel recovered Buentipo’s body and transported him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m., police said.
Buentipo was reportedly with friends who were swimming near Shipman Beach in Keaau around 1:34 p.m. April 6, when he experienced difficulties in the water and was unable to swim back to shore. His friends apparently lost sight of Buentipo, police said.
Rescue personnel and a county helicopter responded to the location and conducted a search, later called off because of darkness. The search resumed and Buentipo’s body was located near the location he was last seen, police said
The case is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest and autopsy is scheduled for today. Criminal Investigation Section detectives are continuing the investigation and do not suspect foul play, police said. — WHT
