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Five visitors were rescued at Anini Beach in high surf Monday afternoon, Kauai County officials said in a news release.
Shortly after 1 p.m., dispatch received a call of a female swimmer in distress. When firefighters arrived on scene, they reported five people had been swept out to the far end of the channel and were holding on to a person’s stand-up paddleboard.
Officials described hazardous ocean conditions with wave heights up to 20 feet just outside the channel.
Lifeguards Chad Listman and Chris Pico arrived at the scene aboard a watercraft and shuttled all five of the swimmers to shore.
Medics transported a 50-year-old female from Arlington, Va., to Wilcox Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The others, two females and two males, refused medical treatment and were released at the scene.
Ocean Safety officials would like to remind the public of a high surf warning that remains in effect for all north and west facing shores through Thursday night.
Beachgoers should obey all posted warning signs and when in doubt, don’t go out!
For up-to-date information about ocean conditions, talk to a county lifeguard, log onto www.kauaiexplorer.com, or call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984.
