By Hawaii 24/7 Staff (6/26/11)
Fire/rescue crews responded to a 5:31 p.m. alarm Saturday (June 25) to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna for an eight year-old boy who fell on the pier, struck his head and landed in the ocean between the concrete pier sections.
Bystanders pulled the unconscious boy from the ocean and performed rescue breathing on the child.
Firefighters continued treatment upon arrival and later medics performed advanced life support on the boy until the Fire Department Chopper two arrived to transport him to Hilo Medical Center.
The condition of the boy was not been released by fire dispatch reports.
UPDATED POLICE MEDIA RELEASE (6/27/11)
On Saturday afternoon (June 25) around 5:30 p.m., Fire and Police Department personnel were called to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp to respond to a possible drowning.
An 8-year-old boy fell into the water and was lost for a short period of time. He was found by a family member floating face down and unresponsive. The family member began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was joined by a lifeguard. Together, they were able to resuscitate the boy.
The boy was flown by helicopter to Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room, then to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, in serious condition with a severe head injury.
This case is being investigated as a public accident. Negligence is not an apparent contributing factor.
Akeakamai Chaul is in stable condition at Kapiolani Childrens Hospital. His parents and family would like to thank everyone involved in the rescue, and especially the wonderful doctors and nurses at Queens Neurological Trauma Center and Kapiolani ICU for their care.
No one wants to see a child hurt so badly. Just being still very new to the B. I. it’s reassuring to know the paramedics took the proper steps to air flight this little boy to the best hospital in Honolulu. Having children myself esp. with a special needs one it’s refreshing to hear the authorities aren’t blaming the parents in this accident. If this accident happened in Florida this would be grounds for child neglect when it really is just a tragic accident. This strong little boy will bounce back with a great future ahead of him.
Thank you to every one that helped me in the hospital .i know it’s late but I have never heard of this site until today .it has now been 4years since my accident and I have fully recovered thanks too the kapiolani children’s hospital.