Back to Hawaii News index

Posted: Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 4:34 AM HST

2 men die of apparent drowning in Hawaii

By Associated Press

WAIOHAI, Hawaii (AP) — Officials on Kauai say two men visiting Hawaii apparently drowned in separate incidents. At Waiohai Bay in Poipu, Fire Chief Robert Westerman says, a 20-year-old man from North Carolina was found face down Monday about 20 feet from shore. Authorities say he had been snorkeling. Also Monday, a 41-year-old man from Portland, Ore., drowned at Kauapea Beach, near Kilauea. The Kauai Fire Department says he was swimming with his 32-year-old brother when a strong current swept them around the coast toward Hanalei. According to a preliminary report, the younger man, who was brought to shore by a surfer, grabbed a rescue tube and swam back to rescue his brother but found him face down in the water. Authorities say both men who drowned were taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Their names weren't released. (Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved)