Swimmer to give Kaua'i to Ni'ihau channel another try

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A man who was rescued while trying to swim from Kaua'i to Ni'ihau on Friday plans to try it again tomorrow, but this time he hopes it will be with an escort boat. So does the Coast Guard.

"Our concern is that he has support — primarily a vessel that can ensure his safety," said Coast Guard search and rescue controller Lt. Michael Wessel.

Matthew Davidson, 27, was picked up an hour short of sunset Friday after swimming for 11 hours. A Pacific Missile Range Facility helicopter pulled him from the water at mid-channel after several hours of searching by the Coast Guard, Navy and Kaua'i Fire Department.

"I'm going to do the swim again, with follow-up boats," Davidson said. He said the effort is to support "the aloha roots of the Ni'ihau people."

Hanap«p« construction worker Jeffrey Glaze, who said he admired Davidson's "guts," is trying to arrange support. Glaze said he offered to help after learning that Davidson is still committed to swimming the 17-mile channel as a personal "vision quest."

Glaze said he is gathering information from local fishermen on water conditions and the right place to enter the water, and has been studying charts of the channel. He had not lined up an escort boat yesterday, and said anyone willing to witness the swim could participate by sending him an e-mail at liveorworse@aol.com.

Rescue crews said Davidson was swimming strongly when they intercepted him Friday, and Glaze said the young man appears to be in good condition.

"He's got as good a chance as anyone," Glaze said.