HomeMy WebLinkAbout____2021823 KPD NR New York woman dies of apparent drowning while snorkeling in PrincevilleDEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: August 23, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
TODD G. RAYBUCK, CHIEF
(808) 241-1600
New York woman dies after snorkeling incident in Princeville
PRINCEVILLE – Therese Walz, 60, of Seaford, New York, died after snorkeling in waters Friday
evening in Princeville.
According to a preliminary report, a call was made to the Kauaʿi Police Department’s Dispatch
Center around 5:55 p.m. that indicated that an unresponsive woman had been pulled from the water
onto Pali Ke Kua Beach, also known as Hideaways.
Ocean Safety Bureau jet ski personnel arrived first on scene as bystanders were attempting to
administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the victim. Lifeguards subsequently began administering
high performance CPR and continued to do so until Kauaʿi Fire Department personnel arrived.
Walz was then taken on backboard up the designated trail to a mule utility vehicle which took
her the remaining distance up the hill where medics were waiting to transport her to Wilcox Medical
Center.
She regained a pulse and was in critical condition overnight but was pronounced dead on
Saturday morning. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.
According to a report, Walz was wearing a traditional snorkel mask and fins at the time of the
incident.
Volunteers with Life’s Bridges, a grief counseling service, were contacted to offer support to the
woman’s family.
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