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A 63-year-old man believed to be visiting from California died Monday morning following an incident at Ke Iki Beach, according to Honolulu Ocean Safety. Two women were also injured in the same incident and rushed to the hospital in critical condition — both also visitors and from Oklahoma.
Emergency responders were called to Ke Iki Beach along the North Shore around 8 a.m. Monday morning after a lifeguard was posting “no swimming” signs in the area due to high surf advisories along the North Shore. Officials say that lifeguards heard calls for help from the beach and swam out to help three distressed swimmers who had been swept out to sea. They were all brought back on to shore on a rescue board.
The 63-year-old man was given CPR but pronounced dead at the scene. His identity hasn’t been released by authorities but they have acknowledged he had a California license and they believe he was a visitor.
It was announced over the weekend high surf advisories would be in effect from 6 a.m. Monday morning until 6 p.m. Tuesday evening due to an incoming north swell hitting Oahu. According to the National Weather Service, waves were forecast in the 14 to 18-foot range for the North Shore with the swell peaking Monday evening and into Tuesday morning. According to Ocean. Safety, “strong current” and “dangerous shore break” signs were already posted in the area Monday morning, as Ke Iki Beach doesn’t have a designated lifeguard tower. Instead, Ocean Safety regularly patrols that area on Jet Skis and ATVs.
