Police said a California woman snorkeling at a South Kohala beach apparently drowned today.
The tourist was identified as Eileen Melville, 70, of Midvalley, California.
Police said bystanders pulled Melville from the water near Puako at about noon. They applied cardio-pulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.
The woman had been snorkeling at Beach 69, named for the number of the utility pole near its entrance, which is located at Waialea Bay.
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She was transported to North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea where she was pronounced dead at 1:17 p.m.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.
This have been at least six other drownings in waters off West Hawaii this year, four of which involved swimmers or snorkelers 60 years of age or older.
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