New Mexico woman drowns in Kona
Police say a 54-year-old woman who died Monday in a possible drowning in Kailua-Kona has been identified as Jennifer Kathleen Purcell of Albuquerque, N.M.
Purcell was pulled out of the water off the 75-5600 block Alii Drive in Kona at about 6 p.m. Sunday evening by bystanders after she was seen floating face-down near the shore.
The bystanders performed CPR on her until the medics arrived on scene.
Purcell was transported to Kona Community Hospital and later airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where she died at 9:29 a.m. Monday.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation to determine the exact cause of death and are asking for witnesses to contact Officer Kaimi Andres-Kamakau at (808) 935-3311 or Kaimi.Andres-Kamakau@hawaiicounty.gov.
