Tragedy struck on Oahu's North Shore at Ke Iki Beach early Monday when a large wave swept three visitors into the ocean. A 63-year-old man from California was pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by KHON2. Along with him, a mother and daughter from Oklahoma, aged 72 and 41 respectively, were hospitalized. The older woman remains in critical condition, and the younger woman is in serious condition, with injuries including a spinal injury.
The incident occurred as lifeguards were about to begin their shift, with a high surf advisory from the National Weather Service forecasting waves of 10 to 15 feet. "They weren't planning on going swimming, they did not have swimsuits on, but they were caught off guard and the surf was rising," Honolulu EMS and Ocean Safety spokesperson Shayne Enright explained in a statement obtained by KHON2.
A lack of a permanent lifeguard tower due to the severe winter swells led to the deployment of lifeguards via ATV, jet ski, and a mobile truck to conduct the rescue. Honolulu Ocean Safety Lt. Kerry Atwood cited Ke Iki's reputation as one of Hawaii's most hazardous shore breaks. "It by far is one of the most dangerous shore breaks we have here in Hawaii," Atwood told KHON2.
Long-time resident Dave Homcy lamented the recurring dangers to KHON2, pointing out the lack of sufficient warning in vacation rentals about the beach's risks. "I feel like all the owners of the vacation rentals here at Ke Iki beach should be a lot more informative and educate their guests of the dangers of this beach," Homcy stated.
With big wave season underway, first responders are urging beachgoers to stick to patrolled areas, heed warning signs, and respect the ocean's power, as per the insights shared by Lt. Kerry Atwood to KITV. "That's probably one of our biggest issues where people get into trouble is they underestimate the power of the ocean," Atwood emphasized.
