Police ID man who died in cliff fall

A man who suffered a fatal fall from a cliff Sunday night into the ocean at the end of Beach Road in Hawaiian Beaches has been identified as 50-year-old Bilas Refit of Kurtistown.

Police and fire departments responded Sunday at about 8:54 p.m. to a report that a man fell into the ocean.

The man was with a group of about five other people when the incident occurred.

Efforts to recover Refit’s body were initially hampered by weather and waves estimated to be up to 50 feet high.

Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Ian Smith said Thursday the body was not recovered, and the search was called off at dusk Wednesday.

An investigation is being conducted by the Hilo Criminal Investigations Section.