Hawaii Island police have identified the body recovered from an underwater cavern system near Hapuna Beach on Wednesday as 13-year-old Gwyneth Agustin Borromeo, also known as Jayson, of Waikoloa.
Hawaii Island police have identified the body recovered from an underwater cavern system near Hapuna Beach on Wednesday as 13-year-old Gwyneth Agustin Borromeo, also known as Jayson, of Waikoloa.
An autopsy conducted Thursday determined the cause of his death was due to salt water drowning, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Responding to the 10:04 a.m. report Sunday, rescue personnel arrived at the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area to find a handful of lifeguards actively searching for Borromeo amid moderate surf and wind conditions. Borromeo had reportedly jumped off a 15-foot 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 its press release issued Sunday evening, the Fire Department said Borromeo “could not swim and jumped in.” Rescuers from the Fire Department, lifeguards, U.S. Coast Guard and friends of the family assisted in the search, which ended Wednesday when his boy was in a cavern.