The Hawaii Fire Department continued searching Tuesday for a 13-year-old boy who jumped off a cliff Sunday into the ocean near Hapuna Beach Park. ADVERTISING The Hawaii Fire Department continued searching Tuesday for a 13-year-old boy who jumped off a
The Hawaii Fire Department continued searching Tuesday for a 13-year-old boy who jumped off a cliff Sunday into the ocean near Hapuna Beach Park.
The U.S. Coast Guard, however, late Monday suspended its active search and instead provided support to as the Fire Department became the lead agency.
“The decision to suspend our active search efforts is always difficult and was not made lightly,” Capt. Shannon Gilreath, commanding officer for Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said in a statement.
Responding to the 10:04 a.m. report Sunday, rescue personnel arrived at the beach to find a handful of lifeguards actively searching for the boy amid moderate surf and wind conditions.
The boy reportedly jumped off the cliff with two other 13-year-old boys, but was unable to get out of the water.
The two other boys subsequently reported him missing, according to reports from the Fire Department.
In a news release, the Fire Department said the boy “could not swim and jumped in.”
The Coast Guard began its search Sunday and covered approximately 219 square miles before suspending efforts at sunset Monday.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
