07-26-19 South Point drowning victim identified (Update)

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Ka‘ū Patrol Division, Area II
Captain Miles Chong
Phone: (808) 939-2520
Report No. 19-055744

 

Media Release (Update)

Hawaiʻi Island police have identified the body recovered from the ocean on (July 15) near South Point in Ka‘ū.

The victim was identified via dental records as 23-year-old Charles Senechal of Bellingham Massachusetts. He was previously reported missing in waters off of Green Sands Beach.

On Saturday, (July 13) at 5:56 p.m., friends of the victim called 911 to report that Senechal did not return to shore after their group of seven went swimming at Green Sands Beach. None of the others in the group were injured.

Hawai`i Fire Department (HFD) personnel and their helicopter responded to the scene and started a search. They were later joined by a United States Coast Guard helicopter and cutter who assisted with the search through the following Monday.

At 9:43 a.m., (July 15), recreational divers found the victim approximately 200 yards offshore from Green Sands Beach and under 50 feet of water. He was extricated from the ocean by HFD personnel before being taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where the official pronouncement of death was made at 2:36 p.m. 

No foul play is suspected, and preliminary autopsy results determined the cause of death to be drowning.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Officer Douglas Phillips, of our Ka‘ū Patrol Division at (808) 939-2520.


This entry was posted in Media Releases. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
  • Keep your community safe through Crime Stoppers

    Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

    The Crime Stoppers TV Program is available on-demand from Nā Leo TV.