KUKUIULA – A 52-year-old male Līhu‘e resident died on O‘ahu on Sunday after he was found unresponsive in waters off Kukuiula Small Boat Harbor on Friday morning.
The Kaua‘i Police Department has identified the decedent as Kelly Vea, 52, of Līhu‘e.
Personnel with the Kōloa fire station, Ocean Safety Bureau, American Medical Response, the Kaua‘i Police Department, and a bystander responded to the incident.
According to a preliminary report, shortly after 8:50 a.m., first responders received a call of a male pulled from waters off Kukuiula Small Boat Harbor. The male was participating in a dive class when dive instructors found him unresponsive.
Personnel with the OSB South Roving Ski patrol, while on patrol, witnessed the event and administered CPR on the male. When Kōloa firefighters arrived, they continued CPR and resuscitation efforts. AMR personnel took over and continued advanced life-saving treatment on the victim while in transport to Wilcox Medical Center. He was later medevacked to O‘ahu, where he died Sunday.
The scene was cleared shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Friday.
An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.
Volunteers with Life’s Bridges, a grief counseling service, is assisting the victim’s family.
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