honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:24 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Lahaina man dies during swim accident

Advertiser Staff

LAHAINA, Maui — A 26-year-old Lahaina man died Sunday after he was found near the shoreline at Ka'anapali with a broken neck.

No one witnessed the accident but it appears John Sumandl may have suffered the fatal injury when he dove into shallow water, according to Capt. Charles Hirata of the Lahaina Patrol District.

An autopsy on Monday also found evidence the man struck his head while in the water.

Sumandl was swimming at Black Rock near the Sheraton Maui when his wife reported losing sight of him, Hirata said.

Paramedics and firefighters tried to revive him after he was discovered by a tourist at 6:54 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 10:46 p.m. at Maui Memorial Medical Center.