A 26-year-old Kailua-Kona man died Saturday afternoon after jumping off the cliffs at Lekeleke Bay, the rugged shoreline locals call the "End of the World." Bystanders and rescue crews pulled him from the surf and began life-saving measures, but he was later pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital.
Kona patrol officers responded shortly after 5 p.m. to a report of a swimmer in distress at the Keauhou spot and opened a possible-drowning investigation, according to KITV. Video from the station shows crews and bystanders working along the jagged lava shoreline while a tour boat assists just offshore.
Big Island Now identified the victim as 26-year-old Mathen Jackson of Kailua-Kona and reported that a friend and a passerby went into the water after he became distressed following a cliff jump. They, along with a nearby tour boat crew, performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator before he was taken to Keauhou Pier and transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. Police have ordered a coroner’s inquest and an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, and investigators say no foul play is suspected.
How The Site And Conditions Raise Danger
Lekeleke Bay, better known by its ominous nickname "End of the World," is a lava-rock shoreline with uneven ledges and sharp, jagged rock that can make exits from the water difficult, according to Hawaii Beaches. The Hawaii Department of Health notes that drowning is a leading cause of injury death in the islands and points to factors such as powerful currents, overestimating swimming ability, and a lack of lifeguards as common contributors. That statewide backdrop underscores how cliff jumping at exposed, unguarded spots like this can turn deadly in seconds.
Officials Ask Witnesses To Come Forward
Police are asking anyone who saw the incident or recorded video of it to contact Kona Patrol Acting Sgt. Reuben Pukahi at 808-326-4646, ext. 253, according to Big Island Now. Investigators say they are awaiting autopsy results as part of the coroner’s inquest.
The death serves as a stark reminder of how unforgiving Hawaii’s shoreline can be. The Hawaii Department of Health urges people to swim only in lifeguarded areas, check local conditions, and avoid alcohol and risky stunts near jagged lava or during high surf, especially on west-facing shores. For more information on drowning prevention, visit the Hawaii Department of Health.
