Two drownings were reported today on the Big Island, one at Punalu'u Beach Park and the other at Keauhou.

The first drowning was reported at 9:11 a.m., firefighters said. An elderly man drowned in high surf in Keauhou. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital.

At about noon, a man who was snorkeling with his wife off Punalu'u Beach drowned, firefighters said.

Fire Department rescue crews arrived at the scene and were told by the man's wife that she and her husband were snorkeling and got in trouble in the surf.

She made it to shore but her husband didn't. He had last been seen about 10 minutes before rescue crews arrived.

A local body boarder said he tried to help the man, firefighters said, but lost sight of him about 100 yards offshore about the time the rescue crews arrived.

The the body was spotted about 30 yards offshore and brought to the beach by firefighters with the help of bystanders.

The man was taken to Kau Hospital.