Apparent drowning in Keauhou Bay

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Police initiated a coroner’s inquest case and a public accident case in connection with two men pulled from the water Friday after encountering trouble while swimming in Keauhou Bay.

Police initiated a coroner’s inquest case and a public accident case in connection with two men pulled from the water Friday after encountering trouble while swimming in Keauhou Bay.

The man who died was identified as 58-year-old Gregory Crisafi of Kailua-Kona.

In response to a 3:45 p.m. call Friday, officers learned Crisafi was swimming on the north side of the bay when he experienced distress and called for help.

Two men with Cristafi, both from Oregon, attempted to assist him. One, a 62-year-old man from Bend, also encountered trouble. The other man swam ashore to call for help.

A Kona man on a fishing boat pulled the two men onto his boat and attempted CPR until Fire Department medics arrived and took them to Kona Community Hospital.

Crisafi was pronounced dead at 4:46 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered. The other man was treated for minor injuries.