Update: Police identified man who died in apparent drowning at OTEC Beach in Kalaoa

Update at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 15: The man who died in an apparent drowning Jan. 5 at Wawaloli Beach on the Kona Coast in Kalaoa, also known as OTEC Beach, about 10 miles north of Kailua-Kona, was identified as 35-year-old Garret Khralovch Stanislav of Mayfield, Ohio.

Kona patrol officers continue their investigation.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Officer Sarha Reich at the Hawai‘i Police Department non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or via email at Sarha.Reich@hawaiicounty.gov.

Original post at 8:23 a.m. Jan. 6: Hawai‘i Island police are investigating an apparent drowning after a man was swept out to the ocean off the Kona Coast.

Responding to a call for a swimmer in distress, officers arrived at the beach park within the Hawai‘i Ocean Science and Technology Park, commonly referred to as OTEC by residents, at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, where they learned three men, including the victim, were near the bathrooms when the man fell into the water after being hit by large waves and was unable to return to land.

According to police, the two unidentified men with the victim tried to coach the man back to land; however, the victim could not swim back to shore.

Hawai‘i Fire Department rescue personnel arrived at the scene and conducted a search, locating the victim, who had no signs of life, and transported him to Honokōhau harbor via boat.

The man, identified as Caucasian and in his early to late 30s, was then transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Kona Patrol Officer Sarha Reich at the police department’s non-emergency number 808-935-3311 or via email at Sarha.Reich@hawaiicounty.gov.