Hawai’i Police Department
Kona Patrol
Lieutenant Daniel Mlakar
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 291
January 9, 2011
Report No. C11000753
Media Release
Big Island police are investigating a possible drowning in waters off the coast of Ka’ohe, South Kona.
Responding to a 10:11 a.m. call on January 9, officers learned that a 51-year-old woman, identified as Jodi Kessler of Hartland, Wisconsin, was snorkeling with family members when she became distressed and began to struggle to stay afloat. Family members were able to get her to shore and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Fire/Rescue personnel took Kessler to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:41a.m.
The case has been classified as a coroner’s inquest and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.