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Paddleboarders rescued on Maui after drifting 2 miles offshore

Maui lifeguards rescued a pair of paddleboarders who were swept miles offshore Kahekili Beach Park by strong winds on Tuesday.

The emergency situation was initially reported at 12:17 p.m. when witnesses saw a the two people, identified as a man and woman from California, waving for help about a quarter-mile offshore.

According to a Maui Fire Department report, the couple were blown out to sea by 30- to 40-mile-per-hour winds. A male friend on the beach paddled out on a boogie board to help and reached them just as lifeguards arrived. An employee from a rental kiosk at the beach also paddled out to help.

By the time lifeguards reached the couple and the two would-be rescuers, the party had drifted approximately two miles offshore. The lifeguards used rescue watercraft to bring the four people back to shore and retrieve two paddleboards and a boogie board; a third paddleboard was not recovered.

No injuries were reported. Firefighters from Lahaina also responded to the emergency call.

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