HONOLULU – The Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department and Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau are searching for a missing female swimmer off Kauai Thursday.
Missing is a 32-year-old woman last seen wearing a blue bikini and hanging onto the rocks 100 yards west of Hanakapiai Beach before she was swept into the surf.
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders received a report at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday via Kauai Fire Department dispatchers from a bystander on the beach who saw the swimmer clinging to the rocks and struggling in the surf zone. The bystander reportedly attempted to rescue the woman by throwing a flotation device.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Kauai.
Involved in the search are:
Anyone with information that may assist in search efforts should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.
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