A 20-year-old female visitor from Idaho died Wednesday afternoon, February 28th, 2024 after being pulled from waters off Lumahai Beach on Kauai’s North Shore, reports the County of Kauai.
First responders were dispatched to Lumahai Beach at approximately 3 p.m. for a swimmer in distress. According to a preliminary report, the victim had been swimming when she was suddenly swept out into deeper water.
According to a County of Kauai news release, “Kauai Fire Department personnel with the Kaiakea fire station, Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, and Ocean Safety Bureau (OSB) lifeguards with the North Roving Patrol Unit responded to the incident. Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 located the unresponsive woman in the water at approximately 3:10 p.m. She was brought to shore by OSB personnel. Rescuers immediately began to administer CPR until AMR medics arrived on scene and took over advanced resuscitation efforts. The woman was transported to the Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death, but foul play is not suspected.”
“Our ocean can be beautiful and enticing, but it can also be unpredictable and dangerous. We urge the public to check conditions before going out and to look for ocean hazards such as rip currents, rocks and shore breaks. If in doubt, don’t go out and only undertake ocean activities where a lifeguard is present,” said Acting Assistant Chief Paul Applegate. “Please pay attention to any warning signs in the area and any media information on current weather and ocean forecasts.”
Lumahai is one of the more dangerous beaches on Kauai and there have been numerous fatalities at the beach over the years. A rip current that is sometimes present at the mouth of the Lumahai River at the west end of the beach has contributed to more than a few of the deaths. The beach has seen so many fatalities that it has earned the nickname “Luma-die” by local residents. If you are planning to visit Lumahai Beach, we suggest that you stay out of the water completely, or visit a beach that has lifeguards.
