A 5-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after an apparent near drowning Wednesday at Kawa Bay in Ka‘u.
Responding to a 9:01 a.m. report, Hawaii Fire Department personnel arrived at Kawa Bay to find the boy unresponsive and without a pulse as a family member performed CPR.
Rescue personnel subsequently took over resuscitation efforts and transported the patient about a half-mile using an off-road vehicle where they were met by an awaiting ambulance on Highway 11. Medics initiated life support treatment while taking the boy to Ka‘u Hospital where he was stabilized and then taken to Hilo Medical Center in critical condition.
No additional information was available on the child’s condition as of press-time Wednesday.