Making Kaua’i’s beaches a little safer one tube at a time

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Making Kaua’i’s beaches a little safer one tube at a time

April 9th, 2008 · No Comments

Anahola resident John Tyler is on a mission.

After learning that roughly 12 drownings happen annually on Kaua‘i, he had an idea to place rescue tubes at unguarded beaches.

“Our lifeguards do a great job, but they can’t be everywhere,” Tyler said. “That’s where the extra tubes can help.”

As a lifeguard trainer for more than 15 years, Tyler felt the need was evident to have some basic lifesaving equipment on the dangerous unguarded beaches.

“It came to me simply to connect the dots and see some donated tubes on Kaua‘i could help cut the drownings here,” he said. “Bystanders want to help; I just saw the ability to give them and the victim a professional tool that makes it all easier.”

And last weekend, a South Carolina man was rescued at Lumahai Beach by a fellow beachgoer using a recently placed rescue tube. Nikona Ghiglari noticed the man in distress, grabbed the tube and swam out to assist Craig Touchton. Touchton was brought ashore by Ghiglari and Hanalei lifeguards on JetSkis, according to county spokesperson Mary Daubert. Touchton was responsive at the scene, but was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital as a precaution, Daubert said.

“I was jumping for joy when I heard the news,” Tyler said ecstatically. “The news was very validating.”