Two swimmers found themselves battling the treacherous currents off Makapu'u Beach in Waimanalo last Monday evening, but thanks to the swift response of the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD), a potential tragedy was averted. The HFD received a distress call just after 7 p.m. and was quick to the scene, with six units and a total of 17 personnel launching a search for the individuals caught in the ocean's grip.
The swimmers, described as two males in their teens and early 20s, were apparently outmatched by the sea conditions. With the fall of dusk turning the rescue effort into a nocturnal affair, the HFD's A01 leveraged night-vision goggles to track down the swimmers in the darkness. It wasn't until 8:45 p.m. that rescue personnel were successfully inserted into the location of the distressed duo, according to the Honolulu Fire Department's report.
Once found, the swimmers were safely escorted back to the sands of Makapu'u Beach. It was there, on the shore, at the brink of 8:59 p.m., that the swimmers' care was transferred to the waiting arms of the Emergency Medical Services.
