A tragic incident at one of Kauai’s most family-friendly beaches has left a local man dead, underscoring the unpredictable nature of ocean conditions, even in seemingly safe environments.
On Saturday morning, April 12, 2025, first responders were dispatched to Lydgate Beach Park around 10:45 a.m. following reports of a swimmer in distress. According to officials, five good Samaritans entered the water in an attempt to assist the swimmer. A lifeguard from the Ocean Safety Bureau’s Lydgate Tower also responded, successfully reaching the man and bringing him to shore. The swimmer, identified as 30-year-old Mathew Tusitala of Kapaa, was unresponsive when brought to land.
Emergency crews performed high-performance CPR and employed a Lucas Device to assist in resuscitation efforts. Tusitala was then transported to Wilcox Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead despite continued life-saving measures.
The five good Samaritans who attempted to help Tusitala were also assisted to shore by Ocean Safety Bureau personnel with the East Rove Ski Patrol. Although exhausted from battling the current, all five were unharmed.
Responding agencies included the Kauai Fire Department from the Kapaa station, Ocean Safety Bureau, the on-duty Battalion Chief, American Medical Response, and the Kauai Police Department. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death, though authorities have stated that foul play is not suspected.
Mathew Tusitala (Facebook)
Tusitala was originally from Vaitogi, American Somoa and attended Tafuna High School, according to his Facebook profile page.
Lydgate Beach is often regarded as one of the safer beaches on the island, thanks to two protected lagoons and a regular lifeguard presence. (Based on reports, it’s likely Tusitala was in the water beyond the lagoons.) However, this incident is a sobering reminder that ocean conditions can change quickly, and danger can arise even in well-monitored locations.
SOURCE: County of Kauai
TOP PHOTO: Lydgate Beach file photo (Kauai Magazine)
