Hawaiʻi County police continue their investigation into a possible drowning that took place on Christmas Day in the waters off the Puna coastline near the Kapoho-Kalapana road.

HFD reports the victim, a male in his early 40s, was observed floating face down in waters off the coastline near the 16- and 17-mile marker on Kapoho-Kalapana Road.

The person who reported the possible drowning said the victim was on the rocks and swept out into the ocean about 25 minutes prior to fire department personnel arriving at the scene.

After locating the victim, Fire department rescue personnel extracted the swimmer from the ocean  with Chopper 1.  He  was then brought to awaiting EMS personnel without any signs of life.  Rescue personnel and county lifeguards performed CPR; however, attempts to resuscitate the victim at the scene were unsuccessful.