A 59-year-old hiker died on the Nounou East Side Sleeping Giant Trail in Wailua on Sunday, February 27th, 2022, reports the County of Kauai. The hiker has been identified as Masami Ozawa of Illinois.
Firefighters were first notified at approximately 11:30 a.m. of a male visitor who had become unresponsive on the trail. Personnel with the Kapaa fire station, Rescue 3, Air 1, the on-duty battalion chief, and American Medical Response responded to the incident.
According to a preliminary report, first responders arrived on scene at approximately 11:35 a.m. and located the hiker at the 0.5-mile marker of the trail. The hiker had no pulse, was not breathing, and was being administered CPR by a bystander.
Rescuers activated an AED on the hiker and took over CPR efforts. Assistance from additional rescuers included high-performance CPR and bag-valve-mask ventilation with high flow oxygen. The man was transported via Air 1 to Wailua Houselots Park to awaiting medics and firefighters.
AMR personnel continued advanced life support on the hiker before transporting him to Wilcox Medical Center ER, where he was pronounced dead.
Located in Wailua, the trail is popular with both local residents and visitors. The trail is relatively easy at lower elevations, but becomes more difficult near the top. Ozawa was found at the 0.5-mile marker which is a relatively easy part of the trail.
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