Fire Department: Two drown at North Kohala beaches

County fire officials say two people died Thursday of apparent drownings at North Kohala beaches.

In the first, a 70-year-old woman was spotted face down in the water while snorkeling at Mahukona Beach Park.

She was taken to Kohala Hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

Then, at about 2:15 p.m., crews were dispatched to Pololu Valley, where a swimmer in distress had been taken ashore by bystanders, who were performing CPR on the beach.

The man, whom a battalion chief said was in his 50s, was taken to a hospital by county helicopter. He was later pronounced dead.

Officials have not released the names of either victims.