Posted on: Thursday, March 31, 2005

Lifeguards revive snorkeler at Hanauma Bay

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

City lifeguards yesterday revived a male tourist from Japan who was found floating in Hanauma Bay, unconscious and not breathing.

"This was one swiped from the hands of death," said Jim Howe, city lifeguard operations chief.

Howe said lifeguards responding to another incident in the area known as the "triangle" at Hanauma Bay, between the two lifeguard stands, found a man floating in the water at 12:20 p.m. The man, who Howe said is in his 70s and visiting with his wife from Japan, had been snorkeling.

It took three cycles of CPR to revive the man, who was taken to Straub Hospital, Howe said.

Three of the lifeguards on duty yesterday at Hanauma Bay were trained emergency medical technicians, and about 60 of the 220 city lifeguards are now trained EMTs, Howe said.

The city is trying to distribute the EMT-certified lifeguards to beaches most frequented by tourists in an effort to better prepare for people who may not be familiar with ocean swimming, he said.

In a separate incident, police homicide investigators were sent to Sand Island State Park yesterday morning after the body of a man was found floating along the park's shores.

Police received a call regarding the body at about 6:40 a.m.

Bill Kato, head of Honolulu Police Department's homicide detail, said the body appeared to be that of a man of Asian ancestry in his 40s.

Kato said there were no obvious signs of foul play on the body.

"There were no bullet wounds or stab wounds, but we are waiting for the autopsy to determine how he died," Kato said.

Advertiser staff writer David Waite contributed to this report. Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.