Hawaiʻi Police Department
South Hilo Patrol
Captain Richard Sherlock
Phone: 961-2214
Media Release
A 41-year-old California man apparently drowned Wednesday (August 10) while swimming in the Wailuku River.
He has been identified as Alejandro Barrios Sr. of Orange, California.
In response to a 3:45 p.m. call reporting a drowning, South Hilo Patrol officers learned that Barrios has been swimming near the third waterfall of an area in the river accessible from the 2000 block of Waianuenue Avenue when he appeared to be in distress. His family attempted to assist him to shore but were unsuccessful and called 911.
Fire/rescue personnel located his lifeless body and extricated the man to shore with the use of a helicopter. Barrios was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was officially pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.
Police have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The case is classified as a coroner’s inquest.