Rocky coastline fronting 15-1825 Beach Rd. Keaau, Hawaii Ocean Rescue Search Report
Tuesday, 8/4/2020 3:26pm
7 pieces of equipment used, including helicopter & C130 plane
11 personnel
Reported that a 50’s male opihi picker was swept into the ocean, Last seen floating face down in the surf zone. HFD conducted search of the shoreline and ocean utilizing surface and scuba divers, Rescue Boat, Rescue Chopper, Coast Guard Rescue Choppers and C130 plane.
Responding units conducted a shoreline and ocean search for a missing male opihi picker. Conditions were rough with a large East ocean swell striking the 20′ high Puna seacliffs. HFD worked the nearshore area just outside of the surf zone with suface divers as well as scuba divers looking in the deeper areas offshore. USCG had a Dolphine Helicopter working the mid range water and a C130 plane searching the outside open ocean. At around 645pm, HFD units suspended the search and began returning to quarters; with the intention of returning at first light. At approximately 7pm friends and family at the cliffs where the victim fell, reported seeing a body in the water. HFD units returned, and in the darkness, 2 rescue men depolyed to the surfline. Guided only by lights from the cliffs above they, through several attempts, were able to recover the victim. He was transported by boat to Wailoa boat ramp where HPD met them.
