Kauai 2008: Reality Check

Here’s something I hope I don’t have to see again in my lifetime. We were walking down the beach, near Poipu Beach Park. A big memorial for some in the local canoe club was about to start, so we were watching that. We were just leaving when I heard screams coming from the beachfront. I walked over (along with many other people) and saw lifeguards dragging an old man out of the water. Apparently he had been floating for a while, and he washed up on shore. We watched as the lifeguards and later the paramedics tried to revive him… I don’t think they succeeded, but I’m not 100% sure, as they took him into the ambulance eventually. It seemed like he was out swimming by himself… who knows where his family was (he had a wedding band on) — they’re in for a horrible shock when they find out what happened.
I’m not sure why I stayed and watched the whole thing… maybe I was hoping that he’d start breathing and be okay. Unfortunately, I don’t think that ever happened.
Update: Apparently the man survived, at least as of press time of the local paper. What a relief! He was from the Bay Area, too — Santa Rosa to be exact.
Update 2: Apparently the man died in the hospital… that’s too bad.