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Coast Guard, Kauai emergency personnel search for California woman swept out to sea

COURTESY KAUAI COUNTY

A Coast Guard helicopter crew searches for a missing California woman who was washed away by a wave today on Kauai’s North Shore.

Kauai firefighters launched a search today for a 23-year-old California woman who was swept out to sea on Kauai’s North Shore.

The woman’s identity has not been released.

A county spokeswoman said the woman was trying to climb the rocks near an area known as Queen’s Bath in Princeville when a wave washed her out to sea. Bystanders reported seeing the woman unresponsive in the water.

Firefighters were sent to the scene shortly before noon today and were searching by helicopter and personal watercraft.

Kauai police and the Coast Guard also were assisting with the search.

Queen’s Bath is known to be dangerous, especially in the winter when surf is high, the spokeswoman said.

A high surf warning has been in effect for Kauai’s North Shore since Tuesday, and the Queen’s Bath trailhead has been closed since last week, the spokeswoman said.

The National Weather Service said surf at Hanalei, near Princeville, was 10 to 15 feet at about 11 a.m.

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