HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and Honolulu County Fire Department are searching for a possible missing swimmer in the vicinity of Waimea Bay, Wednesday.
Anyone with information that may help identify the possible missing swimmer is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point is currently searching the area. An HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point will also assist in the search.
Honolulu County Fire Department shore crews interviewed personnel on the beach and no one was reported to be missing.
Watchstanders at Sector Honolulu received notification at 5:20 p.m., from a good Samaritan on the beach who reported to have seen the silhouette of a swimmer outside of the shore break, then disappear in the water near jump rock in Waimea Bay.
"Sea conditions along the northern facing shores continue to be extremely dangerous," said Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Peterson, a watchstander at Sector Honolulu. "Even the most experienced waterman can find themselves in a life-threatening situation in this environment. Searching for a person in the water in these extreme conditions is always a challenge for our responding units."
Due to the nature of the initial report, there is no information as to what the possible missing swimmer was wearing or if they were male or female.
Weather conditions are currently reported as 8 mph winds with waves up to 20 feet and good visibility.