Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a possible drowning along the shoreline in South Kohala. The victim has been identified as 72 year-old Joann Butler of Boise, Idaho.
On Friday, August 11, officers responded to a report of a female swimmer face down and unresponsive in shallow water at Makaiwa Beach off Kaniku Place. Upon arrival, they found bystanders performing CPR and Hawai‘i County Fire Department medics were summoned. Butler was then taken to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital but she remained unresponsive and was pronounced dead.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
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