Rescuers resume search for woman missing in surf
Advertiser Staff
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| Beachgoers play at Waimea Bay, where waves yesterday were in the 10- to 12-foot range.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The search for a woman lost in the high surf yesterday resumed this morning around Ke Iki Beach, with fire department and Coast Guard teams combing the shoreline area.
The Sunset Beach fire engine company dispatched a crew to walk the beach, looking for the body of a 20-year-old Massachusetts woman who had been visiting Hawai'i with her 21-year-old boyfriend, also from Massachusetts. A Honolulu Fire Department rescue boat and helicopter joined a Coast Guard helicopter in its offshore search, which began at first light.
At about 12:45 p.m. yesterday, rescuers were alerted that a large wave had dragged the woman out to sea. The couple had been playing in the white water. A high-surf warning was in effect yesterday, with waves in the 15 to 30-foot range pounding the North Shore.
The missing woman was with her boyfriend when the 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 witness 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."
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Tejada said a rescue helicopter and boat searched throughout the day for the missing woman. A Coast Guard helicopter joined the search later in the afternoon with no luck.
Local surfer Braden Dias rides a wall of water in the fourth heat of the Xcel Pro Surf Meet at Sunset Beach. Dias placed fifth overall in the meet.
National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Farrell said a high surf warning was in effect for all northwest shores yesterday. Waves of 25 feet with occasional sets of 30 feet were pounding beaches world-famous for their huge winter surf.
"This is the start of the winter surf season on the North Shore," Farrell said.
A high surf advisory was posted this morning for northwest shores.
Surf on the North Shore was in the 12-foot range today. The high surf was generated by a storm off Japan.
