Kona visitor dies after beach rescue

Advertiser Staff

Employees of the Kona Village Resort pulled a drowning man from the ocean moments after he was seen flailing in the water about 40 feet from shore at around 10:45 yesterday morning.

The man, identified as Bobby Waldrop, 56, of Bremen, Ga., was taken by fire rescue workers to the North Kohala Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:25 p.m.

Rescuers said Waldrop was unresponsive but still breathing during efforts to revive him after he was pulled from the water.

Police have ordered an autopsy.