Column: Opening beach access in Hawaii can save lives

Like many dads, I was enjoying my Father’s Day at the beach surrounded by family and friends. I was standing ankle deep in the waters of Kailua Bay throwing a ball for my son and his friend to catch.

Unexpectedly a stranger approached me and asked if he could try out my kayak. I would later learn this stranger’s name was William. I sized William up and he seemed like a nice guy in good enough shape to handle a kayak. I told him to go ahead, but to be careful of the other people in the water.

I kept one eye on William as I continued to throw the ball for the two boys wrestling over the right to catch it. William tipped over once about 10 feet from shore, but got up quickly and got back on.

He then paddled farther out and had just reached the bigger waves about 30-40 feet from shore when he went over again. Something seemed wrong about how William fell and I moved quickly out into the water. As I reached William it became clear he wasn’t all right. He was drowning and unconscious. I quickly pulled him to the surface and started back toward shore.

In seconds, I was surrounded by other community members and we worked together to carefully and quickly transport William to the beach.

Once up on the sand, other community members with medical training dove in to help and started chest compressions. One of the members of our group was already on the phone with the 911 dispatcher telling them where to go. Others ran out to the main road to flag down the first responders while others waited at the beach access to help bring them to where William was laying still unconscious and unresponsive.

Ocean Safety staff was the first on the scene with Fire Department paramedics close behind. Some took over working on William while others gathered information on what happened and spoke with William’s wife about his medical history. They were all impressive in their speed, efficiency and clear dedication to the mission of saving this man’s life.

The mood on the beach was somber as, to us, William still lay there looking lifeless and unresponsive. He was loaded onto a board and whisked off to a waiting ambulance. As quickly as it had begun it was over and the beach was left much as it was before it all began. I sat in a chair trying to make sense of a wide range of emotions when I noticed the very first Ocean Safety responder returning to the beach.

We were closest to the access and he stopped first with us to share the good news that William had a pulse and to thank us for our help. He was about to move on, when he stopped and added a special thanks for us sending people out to show them the way through this access. He added that if “we had to go through the beach park, it would have added at least several minutes to our response time.” As he said this, he looked down and shook his head, clearly indicating he thought that would have been too late.

The beach access in question is privately owned and intended for the residents of our street. My family and I have fought to keep it open and unlocked, a fact that has made us quite unpopular with some of our neighbors.

The events of this Father’s Day have shown me how important this access is. So to all of those who have a private beach access, please show some aloha and compassion. Keep your gates open at least during the day. Support our first responders in their mission to save lives. You never know, the life you save might be someone you love.

Greg Thielen is a small business owner and active member of the Windward community, where he was born and raised.