A surfer in his 50s died Thursday after an accident at Ala Moana Bowls as a south swell battered Oahu.
Lifeguards rescued the surfer, who was found floating at the Ala Moana Bowls surf break at 2:30 p.m.
He was taken in extremely critical condition to an area hospital, where he died just before 8 p.m.
At Sandy Beach, Emergency Medical Services personnel transported a 46-year-old man in serious condition to a hospital at about 4 p.m. EMS said the man was bodyboarding when he went over the top of a wave and landed on his neck in the sand.
The Ocean Safety Division reported 47 rescues at Waikiki and Ala Moana on Thursday. Lifeguards issued 529 warnings at Ala Moana, Waikiki and Sandy Beach.
Here’s the breakdown:
» Ala Moana: one rescue, 132 warnings
» Waikiki: 46 rescues, 396 warnings
» Sandy Beach: one warning
On Kauai, meanwhile, a woman missing since Tuesday was found Thursday with minor injuries at the south end of Kalapaki Bay. The woman, 50, was last seen just after noon Tuesday near Ninini Beach, also known as Running Waters.
A search by the Coast Guard and Kauai Fire Department turned up nothing Wednesday. The search resumed Thursday, and the woman was found just before 3 p.m. along the rocky shoreline.
She had some cuts but was otherwise OK.
The surf was dropping from advisory levels Thursday and will gradually diminish over the next few days, said National Weather Service lead forecaster Robert Ballard. The advisory was dropped at 3:17 p.m. Thursday.
On Oahu, surf ranged from 5 to 6 feet Thursday morning, with occasional 8-footers. South-shore surf heights of 3 to 6 feet are expected today and at or below the same on Saturday.
"There could be a reinforcing small bump Sunday night into early next week," said Ballard.
