Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
Four people — all visitors — have drowned off Kauai so far this year, double the total for all of 2012.
County officials said Monday they will be educating tourists about the dangers of Kauai surf.
Two drownings occurred off the North Shore, one off the South Shore and one off the East Shore. One of last year’s two drownings occurred off the East Shore and the other off the South Shore, according to Kauai County spokeswoman Sarah Blane.
Two drownings took place last week.
A 71-year-old Colorado woman was swimming in waters off Poipu Beach on Wednesday, and beachgoers found her face down in the water, the Kauai Fire Department said Monday. They pulled the woman from the water, called 911 and performed CPR until rescue personnel arrived.
The woman was transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She was identified Monday as Wendy Anderson.
David Nichols, 65, of Mount Kisco, N.Y., died Saturday afternoon while swimming at a spot called Kitchens off Lydgate Beach near Wailua Golf Course. Police said Nichols was swimming with his daughter. She swam in, but Nichols did not return to the beach. She called 911 for help.
Police said lifeguards found Nichols’ body floating about 25 yards from the shore. Fire rescue crews administered CPR before he was transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Brian Baker and Adam Griffiths, both of San Francisco, drowned off Kalihiwai Bay on Jan. 18, police said. The men were traveling with three others when they stopped at a remote, rocky area off South Kalihiwai Road.
Baker, 47, was swept out to sea after a rogue wave struck him. Griffiths, 46, attempted to rescue him but was also swept in.
Griffiths’ body was recovered the following day. Baker’s body was never found.
81