A 25-year-old visitor from Poland drowned yesterday afternoon while swimming at Hanakapi’ai Beach on Kaua’i’s north shore, the Kaua’i Fire Department reported.

It was the fourth ocean drowning in two days on Kaua’i. Three people drowned in two incidents Sunday.

Witnesses said the man hiked into Hanakapi’ai Valley and decided to go into the ocean. Within minutes, he was overcome by the strong current and was swept out to sea.

Someone who saw what happened hiked out of the remote valley and notified lifeguards at the nearest guarded beach, Ke’e Beach, at about 11:56 a.m.

Waves at Hanakapi’ai were reported to be at least 10 feet, Kaua’i Fire Chief Kenneth Westerman said.

A rescue helicopter spotted the victim about 150 to 200 yards from Hanakapi’ai Beach, the department reported. Two lifeguards retrieved the victim with a Jet Ski and brought him to firefighters in an inflatable-hull boat.

The man’s body was taken by boat to Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei, arriving about 3:30 p.m., Westerman said.

On Sunday, two female visitors were swept from a ledge at Queen’s Bath on the north shore at 3:24 p.m. and a Japanese visitor was found unconscious in the ocean at 2:54 p.m. in Wailua, in waters fronting the Lae Nani condominium.

The Sunday drowning victims were identified by Kaua’i County as Tonya Cataldo, 39, of Parker, Colo.; her sister-in-law Heather Westphal, 33, of Washington, D.C.; and Hiroaki Kinjo, 74, of Japan.

“It is important for everyone to be respectful of the ocean, and remember our mantras ‘Swim near a lifeguard’ and ‘When in doubt, do not go out,’ ” Westerman said.

He also encourages visitors to check the Kaua’i Explorer Web site (www.kauaiexplorer.com) for information on ocean hazards.

The Kaua’i Fire Department’s Ocean Safety Bureau also offers a free Water Awareness Visitor Education program for visitor industry workers, to help visitors understand the severity of ocean hazards. For information, call 808-241-4984.

(Source: Honolulu Advertiser)

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