Kitesurfer Rescued in Lumahai, Surfer Drowns in Poipu

Two separate incidents were reported by the County of Kauai for Tuesday, July 20th, 2021.

Surfer Drowns off Poipu Beach

The first incident happened at approximately 8:15 AM in waters off Poipu Beach. Gary Schultz, a 61-year-old Kalaheo man, died of an apparent drowning on Tuesday morning while surfing near Poipu Beach.

According to a preliminary report, a call was made to the Kauai Police Department’s Dispatch Center around 8:15 AM that indicated that a man was found unresponsive in the ocean fronting the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club at Poipu Beach. Kauai Fire Department personnel from the Koloa fire station, lifeguards, and American Medical Response, were notified and immediately responded. Multiple attempts to revive Schultz were unsuccessful. He was transported to Wilcox Medical Center and where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

Kitesurfer Rescued at Lumahai

First responders rescued a kitesurfer off waters at Lumahai Beach on Tuesday evening. This is a popular area for kitesurfing.

According to a preliminary report, at approximately 7:20 PM, firefighters from the Hanalei Fire Station received a report of a missing 26-year-old female visitor who did not return from kite surfing at Lumahai Beach on Tuesday evening. The United States Coast Guard was notified, and Rescue 3 was on standby.

Firefighters with the Hanalei fire station activated Jetski 1 at approximately 7:30 PM to conduct a search of the water. First responders connected with a local fisherman who was conducting a search for the visitor prior to the arrival of the jet ski. First responders on Jetski 1 located the kitesurfer approximately 3/4 miles offshore and cleared the scene at approximately 7:50 PM. No medical treatment was needed.