Posted at 6:26 p.m., Thursday, November 8, 2001

Woman missing in year's first big winter surf

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The first big surf of the winter season slammed into O'ahu's North Shore yesterday and claimed its first victim when a 20-year-old woman was swept out to sea.

The woman, a visitor from Massachusetts, was playing with her boyfriend in the whitewater at Ke Iki Beach when a large wave sucked her out, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada. He said the man tried to hold her back, but couldn't.

A witness said he saw the woman floating in the water and yelling for help shortly before 1 p.m. Tejada said the man ran for help.

"When he came back to the shoreline, he saw the girl one more time," Tejada said. "He saw her up in the wave and a big wave took her down, and that was the last they saw of her."

Tejada said a rescue helicopter and boat searched throughout the day for the missing woman. But he said the rescue effort was hampered by surf of up to 15 feet.

He said the search would resume at first light today.

National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Farrell said a high surf warning was in effect for all northwest shores yeserday. Waves of 25 to 30 feet were pounding some beaches.

Farrell said the surf was expected to begin declining early this morning and be in the 15-foot range today. The big waves were generated by a storm off of Japan, he said.