Hawai‘i Island police are investigating an apparent drowning at a Kona beach involving 53-year-old Jeffrey Jewers of Aurora, Colorado. On October 17, officers responded to a report of a distressed swimmer in the 75-6000 block of Ali‘i Drive. Upon arrival, they learned that Jewers was walking along a rocky area the shoreline when a large wave struck him. The force of the wave knocked him down onto the rocks, where he was subsequently pulled into the ocean. Witnesses saw him attempting to climb out of the ocean when he was struck by a second large wave, pulling him away from the shoreline. He was last observed in the water a 1/2 mile offshore.
Responding Hawai‘i County Fire Department personnel located Jewers, who appeared lifeless. He was taken to the Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Officer Mara Gaertner of Kona Patrol at (808) 326-4646, ext. 253, or via e-mail at Mara.Gaertner@Hawaiicounty.gov.