Boat captain rescues swimmer in Kailua Bay

KAILUA-KONA — A woman was rescued Monday afternoon after becoming distressed while swimming in Kailua Bay.

At 4 p.m., the woman, described as an adult passenger from the cruise ship Carnival Legend, was seen swimming in Kailua Bay approximately 100 yards off the pier and appeared to be in distress as she was pulled farther from land.

Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Staff then contacted the owner of Captain Zodiac, Linda Zabolski, and asked if they could take their vessel, the “Black Pearl,” out to check on the status of the swimmer.

Zabolski immediately offered the use of her vessel and crew to go out and check on the woman, according to the DLNR.

Capt. Colin Cornforth contacted the woman and discovered she was in extreme distress. Cornforth and a crew member tried to help the woman into their vessel, but she was too weak to climb in.

Cornforth then jumped into the water and rescue-towed her more than 100 yards to shore. The Hawaii Fire Department was contacted and they responded to the scene.

The victim was then transported by ambulance to the Kona Community Hospital.