Hawai’i Island police are investigating a possible drowning that occurred in the Puna district.

On Saturday, December 25, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., officers responded to a report of a swimmer in distress in the Kalapana area. Hawaii Fire Department rescue personnel extracted the swimmer from the ocean and began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation along with County of Hawaii lifeguards however, attempts to resuscitate the victim at the scene were unsuccessful.

The body was that of a male in his early 40s however, positive identification will be made through fingerprint analysis.

Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.