Fire/rescue crews responded to a 10:15 a.m. alarm Saturday (Nov 12) to Kauhola Point in Halaula, North Kohala for a drowning.

At the popular surf spot ‘Kohala Lighthouse’ surfers found a 63-year-old man face down in the ocean not breathing and without a pulse. Surfers began CPR in the water and brought the man to shore where firefighters took over resuscitation efforts.

Fire Department Choppers One and Two were on hand to lift the victim up a cliff to the waiting medic unit which transported the man to Kohala Hospital.

The cause of the surfer’s drowning was reported as an accident by fire dispatch.