Hawaii County Fire Department rescue personnel have located a body believed to be that of a 13-year-old boy missing since jumping off a cliff on Sunday at Hapuna State Recreation Area. ADVERTISING Hawaii County Fire Department rescue personnel have located
Hawaii County Fire Department rescue personnel have located a body believed to be that of a 13-year-old boy missing since jumping off a cliff on Sunday at Hapuna State Recreation Area.
The body was found around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in waters along the southern edge of the South Kohala beach park. Wednesday was the fourth day of searching for the boy who has not yet been identified.
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Responding to the 10:04 a.m. report Sunday, rescue personnel arrived at the beach to find a handful of lifeguards actively searching for the boy amid moderate surf and wind conditions. The boy had reportedly jumped off the cliff with two other 13-year-old boys, but was unable to get out of the water. The two other boys subsequently reported him missing, according to the Fire Department.
In a news release, the fire department said the boy “could not swim and jumped in.”
The U.S. Coast Guard late Monday suspended its active search and instead provided support as the Fire Department became the lead agency.
Crews aboard Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, a 110-foot Island class patrol boat home ported in Hilo, was to return to the area Tuesday and provide support to the incident commander. Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft also planned to support the search Tuesday.
“The decision to suspend our active search efforts is always difficult and was not made lightly,” Capt. Shannon Gilreath, commanding officer for Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said in a statement.
The Coast Guard began its search Sunday and covered approximately 219 square miles before suspending efforts at sunset Monday.
Involved in the search were MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Oahu, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, various surface and air assets from the Hawaii Fire Department, Ocean Safety and EMS.
