Tourist in critical condition after paddleboarder pulls him from water in Hawaii

A paddleboarder came to the rescue and pulled a tourist out of the water off a Hawaiian beach, officials said.

The 45-year-old tourist was visiting Kauai from Shanghai, China, and swimming in the water of Anini Beach, according to a Facebook post by the County of Kauai.

At about 3:40 p.m. on Jan. 9, first responders got a call that a man had been pulled from the water by a paddleboarder, officials said.

Crews from the Hanalei fire station, Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau, and American Medical Response responded to the incident, according to the release, and

First responders performed CPR on the man.

There is no lifeguard posted at Anini Beach, according to the Kauai website, and “the beach is known to have strong currents.”

The medical response team continued “life-saving treatment on the swimmer” and took him to a local medical center, where he is in critical condition, according to the release.

The Kauai website urges the public to swim at beaches with a lifeguard, to never swim alone, to avoid swimming during high surf, and to check the water for warning signs before entering.

This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Tourist in critical condition after paddleboarder pulls him from water in Hawaii."