MEDIA RELEASE

A 67-year-old Kona woman apparently drowned Wednesday (February 20) in waters near the Kailua Pier.

She was identified as Nga Angie Prieto of Kailua-Kona.

In response to a 9:30 a.m. call of a possible drowning, officers determined that a woman swimming near buoy No. 3 had discovered Prieto floating face down and unresponsive.

The swimmer flagged down a tender boat from a cruise ship and the victim was pulled aboard. Personnel on the boat attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and took the victim to shore, where Fire Department personnel continued CPR. They took the woman to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:57 a.m.

Police have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.