By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Fire/rescue units responded to a 9:33 a.m. alarm Sunday (Dec 28) to Wailea Beach (aka Beach 69) in South Kohala for a swimmer in distress.

A 53-year-old man was observed to be swimming about 150 yards from shore near the North side of Wailea Beach when he showed signs of experiencing difficulty in the water. Lifeguards from Hapuna Beach along with Chopper Two, a medic unit and utility vehicle from the South Kohala Fire Station responded.

Fire crews arrived to find bystanders and lifeguards performing CPR on the man who was brought to shore via kayak in cardiac arrest. Fire department personnel took over using Advanced Cardiac Life Support methods attempting to revive the man and transported him to North Hawaii Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead of a possible drowning.