Swimmer brought to Hilton shore dies

A man who got into trouble swimming in Waikiki surf died yesterday after being brought ashore by other swimmers.

The man, in his 60s, was an apparent drowning victim, according to Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for city Emergency Medical Services. He was pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to a Honolulu hospital.

The victim was swimming with other people about 100 yards offshore from the Atlantis pier at Hilton Hawaiian Village, according to Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Terry Seelig.

Bystanders began CPR when he was brought ashore at about 1:30 p.m. The ambulance crew continued with resuscitation efforts before transporting him to a hospital.

City lifeguards brought three other swimmers ashore on a rescue craft.

The man's identity was not immediately released.

Baby's burned legs prompt investigation

Police detectives are investigating the case of a 1-year-old baby who was brought to a Honolulu hospital Sunday with severe burns to his legs.

Police said the boy was taken to a hospital at 5 a.m. Sunday with second-degree burns.

The boy was treated at the hospital, where he remains in its care pending an evaluation by Child Welfare Services, police said.

Police classified the case as second-degree assault.

Rescuers reach crew of Taiwanese vessel

Coast Guard rescuers yesterday reached the 28-member crew that abandoned a disabled Taiwanese fishing vessel, and have treated two men who were burned in a fire on the ship yesterday.

The Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley, based in Kodiak, Alaska, reached the Hou Chun survivors, who were in two life rafts about 900 miles southwest of Honolulu.

The cutter will take the victims to Christmas Island, where they will be medically evacuated.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules air crew from Barbers Point remained on scene to coordinate the exact position of the life rafts. The Alex Haley arrived at 3 a.m. yesterday.

The cause of the fire aboard the Taiwanese-flagged vessel has not been determined.

Teen in alleged Kalihi sexual assault arrested

A 16-year-old boy was arrested yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Kalihi.

Police said the girl had reported being sexually assaulted Jan. 9 at 12:01 a.m.

Police found and arrested the boy yesterday on suspicion of two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual assault.

He was released pending investigation.

Choking suspect turns self in at police station

Police arrested a 29-year-old Mililani man Monday for allegedly choking a 25-year-old woman he lives with.

The woman reported she was arguing with the man when he allegedly choked her 9:30 a.m. Sunday until she fell unconscious, police said.

The man fled before police arrived, but turned himself in Monday at the Wahiawa police station.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony abuse of a household member.

2 homes burn on Big Island, displacing 11

A fire displaced 11 people after one house was destroyed and a neighboring home partially damaged in the Kau district of the Big Island.

The fire destroyed a residence at 95-1236 Ohai Road in Naalehu yesterday morning, fire officials said.

“;It's a pile of ashes,”; said Barney Sheffield, the Red Cross disaster coordinator on the Big Island. “;They lost everything. ... We're trying to do what we can to assist them.”;

Sheffield said the family members were staying at a bed-and-breakfast.

Regarding the second house, he said the family members are staying with relatives until they assess the necessary repairs.

Officials estimated the damage to the homes at $227,000.

Fire officials said the house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at 5:55 a.m.

Firefighters took more than four hours to extinguish the blaze.