Hawaii Island police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation into the death of a North Kohala man who was swimming in rough water at Kehena Beach in Pahoa, Sunday afternoon.
Police and Fire Department personnel responded to a 12:06 p.m. call of a man in distress in the water off the Kehena Beach shore. Several people attempted to assist the man back to shore but were unable to get to him due to the rough ocean conditions. The swimmer was last seen going under the water. His body was later recovered by fire/rescue personnel approximately 100 feet from shore.
He has been identified as 43-year-old Erik Collins of Kapaau.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Hawaii Island police have also initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation into the death of a Honokaa woman who was swept away by rushing rain water Saturday night.
She has been identified as 47-year-old Beth R. Radl.
Police and Fire Department personnel responded to a 10:42 p.m. Saturday that Radl had tried to cross a “river” of rushing water near her home on the 3900 block of Kahana Drive, when she was swept away by the knee-high water.
Her body was located at 5:29 a.m. Sunday in a stream about a quarter-mile away.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.