Three Visitors Die In One Week

The drowning of an Australia man marked the third tourist death in three days.

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A 70-year-old man from Australia drowned Thursday afternoon while snorkeling off Anini Beach on Kauai, county officials said.

The man, whose name has not been released yet, was found floating face down 20 feet from the shoreline around 5 p.m. Bystanders brought him to shore and attempted to resuscitate him. Firefighters took over life-saving efforts, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

He was at least the third visitor to die this week in Hawaii.

This rescue tube at Anini Beach is one of more than 200 that community members places around Kauai at unguarded beaches.
This rescue tube at Anini Beach is one of more than 200 that community members places around Kauai at unguarded beaches. Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

A 21-year-old female tourist from China died Wednesday after an April 17 accident on the popular Twin Falls trail on Maui. County officials identified her as Mei Jun Huang.

And on Tuesday, a 27-year-old man from Japan died after scuba diving off the south shore of Oahu. Honolulu officials identified him as Tatsumi Umemura.

Civil Beat published a multi-part series on visitor safety in January, focusing on ocean safety in particular in light of a high rate of drownings. It’s available here.

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