Kona Patrol Officers and Hawai'i Fire Department personnel responded to a distressing situation on Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona late Sunday afternoon, as reported by Nixle. A 54-year-old woman, recently relocated from New Mexico to Hawai'i, was found floating unconscious off the coast. The harrowing scene unfolded around 5:54 p.m. on the 75-5600 block where bystanders, seen responding with a haste that belied the usual serenity of island life, managed to retrieve her from the water and immediately commenced CPR.

The unsuccessful rescue attempt culminated in medics taking over upon arriving promptly, whisking the woman to Kona Community Hospital. According to the Hawaii County Police, now in critical condition, she was lastingly airlifted to Honolulu for further treatment. Tragically, her battle ended the following morning; at Queen's Medical Center, her life quietly slipped away at 9:29 a.m. on July 22, as confirmed by authorities.

The victim's identity still remains a mystery, waiting on proper identification and the heartache of informing her family. Police have since initiated a coroner’s inquest to uncover the truths that might be veiled beneath the surface of her cause of death. The public, for those who might hold pieces of this puzzle, is encouraged by the police to come forward. Officer Kaimi Andres-Kamakau is the point of contact for any witnesses, reachable at (808) 935-3311 or through email, at the address [email protected].