Police investigating possible weekend drowning at Hilo beach

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating the possible drowning of a 52-year-old Hilo man the morning of Oct. 5 in Hilo.

South Hilo Patrol officers and Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel responded at 11:27 a.m. to Brown’s Beach, just west of Onekehakeha Beach Park in the Keaukaha community, following a report of a swimmer in distress.

Officers determined that the victim, identified as Robert Best, was picking ‘opihi — Hawaiian limpets, or sea snails that live in rocky intertidal and tidepool areas — when he slipped and fell into the ocean.

Best, who struggled against the strong current and crashing waves, was seen shortly thereafter motionless and unresponsive in the water.

Bystanders pulled the Hilo man onto shore and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation until Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel arrived and took over life-saving measures.

He was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m.

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

No foul play is suspected.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact South Hilo Patrol Officer Xylon Takata or Acting Lt. David Poʻohina with the Hawaiʻi Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-935-3311 or by email at Xylon.Takata@hawaiipolice.gov or David.Poohina@hawaiipolice.gov.