Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak file photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard suspended the search for a swimmer missing off Lydgate Beach, Kauai, Monday evening.
Darall Pascua, 55, remains missing.
“We express our deepest sympathy to the Pascua family and friends,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Dustin Costa, a command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “Suspending a search is never easy and it’s incredibly difficult when there’s no closure in finding your loved one. The Coast Guard has suspended the active search pending new updates.”
Responders conducted a total of 44 searches covering 524 square miles (396 nautical square miles) over a span of three days.
Involved in the search were:
- A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew
- The crew of the Coast Guard Gutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126)
- A Coast Guard Station Kauai 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew
- Kauai County Fire Department Kapa‘a firefighters
- Ocean Safety lifeguards on Jetskis,
- Kauai County Fire Department Rescue 3 specialists aboard Air 1 helicopter
- A U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter crew from the Kaneohe Bay-based Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37
At 9:45 a.m., Saturday, Sector Honolulu watchstanders were notified of the situation by the Kauai Fire Department. Pascua was reportedly last seen heading out to retrieve his nets at the surf break off the beach. His possessions remain on shore.
Pascua was described last seen wearing red, yellow, and green swim trunks with fins.
Anyone with information of Pascua’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Coast Guard at 808-842-2600.
