UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (1/14/10 6:18 p.m.)
After three days of air, ocean and land searching in the Keauhou area fire department crews still have not found missing swimmer 30 year-old Daniel Wright of Kailua-Kona.
Ocean conditions were better today with moderate surf and good water visibility.
UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (1/13/10 6:20 p.m.)
Fire/rescue crews made multiple free dives and scuba dives in Keauhou Wednesday (Jan 13) searching for swimmer, Daniel Wright, who went missing on Monday (Jan 11) after a cliff jump into the ocean.
At 8:30 a.m. divers found swim shorts in approximately 15 feet of water 100 yards off-shore. Ocean conditions were turbulent with surges and swells in the area. A search by air and land continued along the coastline. The search was suspended and is set to resume Thursday (Jan 14).
UPDATED FIRE MEDIA RELEASE (1/12/10 6:38 p.m.)
Search and rescue efforts began at daybreak Tuesday (Jan 12). The fire department rescue boat was used to conduct a shoreline and scuba dive search but did not find the victim. Due to the high surf and low visibility only one scuba dive entry was made. Chopper one performed search patterns up to five miles north and south and two miles out from where the victim was last seen Monday (Jan 11).
The search will continue tomorrow at first light with Chopper one and the rescue boat.
UPDATED POLICE MEDIA RELEASE (1/12/10 6:25 p.m.)
A man reported missing after he jumped off a cliff into high surf has been identified as 30-year-old Daniel Wright of Kailua-Kona.
Wright was last seen around 2:30 p.m. Monday (January 11) in waters off “End of the World” at the end of Ali’i Drive. He was observed drifting out to sea and treading water. Shortly thereafter, witnesses lost sight of him.
The Fire Department searched for him Monday and Tuesday using a boat and a helicopter. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the search was unsuccessful.
UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (1/12/10 12:02 a.m.)
A 30-year-old Kailua-Kona man was reported missing Monday (January 11) after he jumped off a cliff into high surf at the end of Ali’i Drive, known as “End of the World,” where he and two friends intended to go swimming.
Police investigation revealed that witnesses last saw the man around 2:30 p.m. He was observed drifting out to sea and treading water. Shortly thereafter, witnesses lost sight of him.
Fire rescue dispatched a rescue boat and helicopter to search the area until dark. The Fire Department was to continue the search at first light Tuesday.
MEDIA RELEASE (1/11/10)
A 27 year-old man is missing in rough seas off Keauhou after jumping off the shoreline cliffs Monday (Jan 11).
A friend of the victim said the man decided to jump into the ocean at the end of Alii Drive near an area nicknamed ‘end of the world’ where people jump into the ocean off 20 foot shoreline cliffs. Witnesses reported that the man could not get back to shore due to the rough surf smashing against the rocky coastline of steep cliffs. The man was approximately 100 yards off-shore and was not seen again.
Fire/rescue crews got the alarm for the incident at 6 p.m. and dispatched an engine, medic unit, two helicopters and a rescue boat to search for the man who was not found. The search will resume at daybreak Tuesday (Jan 12).
The National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning until 6 p.m. Tuesday (Jan 12). The Department of Parks and Recreation closed Kahalu’u, La’aloa, Milolii, and Hookena Beach Parks at approximately 3 p.m. Monday afternoon due to increasing surf. Beach openings will be reassessed in the morning in regards to ocean surf conditions.