The woman, believed to be in her 40s, has not been identified.
Rescuers located the body further downstream at about 8:30 a.m. Friday and airlifted the victim out of the valley.
The Kauai Fire Department and lifeguards from the Ocean Safety Bureau were notified of the incident at about 4 p.m. Thursday while en route to rescue 55 hikers who were stranded on the far side of the stream, unable to cross due to a rise in the water level.
The female hiker apparently tried to cross on her own before help arrived when she was swept away.
The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an aerial search of the area while lifeguards on jet ski searched the shoreline throughout the evening, but nightfall forced rescuers to suspend their efforts.
Meanwhile, rescuers attempted to assist the stranded hikers in the valley, but the stream’s high water level along with strong winds made it difficult for rescuers to assist them safely across, forcing everyone to stay in the valley overnight.
With the assistance of the two firefighters on scene, all 55 hikers were able to cross the stream safely Friday morning as the water receded.
Ten hikers were flown out of the area while the rest of the group opted to hike out on their own.
None of the hikers required medical assistance.
Life’s Bridges, a volunteer-based grief counseling service, is assisting the family of the female hiker.
This is the seventh drowning reported on Kauai this year.
RELATED STORY:
Search continues for woman swept away in waters off Kauai, 50 others stranded
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
