Apparent Drowning Victim on Christmas Day Identified

Authorities have identified the victim of a possible drowning that occurred in the Kalapana area on Christmas day, as Oscar Odom, 41, of Puna.

Odom had recently moved to the Puna district from Alaska.

On Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, at 1 p.m., Hawai‘i police officers responded to a report of a swimmer in distress along the coastline in Kalapana. Hawaiʻi Fire Department rescue personnel extracted the swimmer from the ocean and began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation along with County of Hawaiʻi lifeguards however, attempts to resuscitate Odom at the scene were unsuccessful.

Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.