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HILO — Authorities say three swimmers were rescued from the waters off a Big Island beach after a hiker spotted them struggling against the surf and called for help.
Hawaii County Fire Department divers were dispatched by helicopter to Haena Beach on the island’s eastern shore around 2:30 p.m. Friday. They loaded the swimmers onto a net hanging below the helicopter one at a time and safely brought them back to shore.
Fire Rescue Specialist James Wilson told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald one of the swimmers, a teen, would not have been able to tread water much longer.
He was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center. The two older swimmers declined treatment.
Glenn Swanson of Hawaiian Paradise Park said he called 911 while out with family for a hike when he saw the swimmers get sucked out by the surf.
