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North Shore
rescue crews busy,
brace for more

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By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

As the North Shore braced for waves of up to 20 feet on Friday, two rescues and one possibly serious injury occurred in smaller swells yesterday.

A 46-year-old man from Japan who sustained a back injury while bodyboarding at Waimea Bay went to Queen's Medical Center by medical helicopter showing signs he may have been partly paralyzed.

"There was a loss of sensation," said Bodo Van Der Leeden, North Shore lifeguard captain. When this occurs, lifeguards immobilize the victim by tying him to a back board, actually a stiff stretcher, Van Der Leeden said.

"All I can tell you is that he's in guarded condition," a Queen's nursing supervisor said later.

The Waimea Bay injury was reported at 12:28 p.m.; the victim was hurt while in a shore break, Capt. Van Der Leeden said, adding he had rented a bodyboard from a local surf equipment rental shop.

Earlier, about 11 a.m., two snorkelers washed out of Shark's Cove and became stranded in rather high surf, Van Der Leeden said.

After a 911 call, Firefighter Jack Bredin swam out to the snorkelers, and lifeguards launched the Waimea Bay rescue jet ski, which brought them all safely ashore, Van DerLeeden said.

North Shore surf was cresting at six to eight feet yesterday morning but dropped to about four feet by late afternoon, he said.

"We're still looking at around 20 feet by Friday afternoon," predicted Henry Lau, National Weather Service forecaster.

North Shore surf was mostly four to eight feet yesterday, he said.

A slight rise to eight from about five feet was expected today with a drop back down tomorrow. Surf is expected to remain relatively calm until it peaks Friday, Lau said.