HALEIWA (HawaiiNewsNow) – A second visitor who was swept out to sea on Oahu's north shore Monday has died, Honolulu police said.

According to HPD records, a 72-year-old visitor who was initially taken to the hospital in critical condition was later pronounced dead.

Honolulu Ocean Safety tells Hawaii News that waves were 6 to 8 feet high when the tragedy occurred around 8 a.m. at Ke Iki Beach in Pupukea.

Three people were swept into the water.

Ke Iki can be a quiet beach, but that quickly changes when the waves are bigger.

“For people to come to the beach, it seems like a calm, great day for swimming. But actually we could have 10 feet of surf that day and they just didn't see a set,” said Kerry Atwood, Lt. Kerry Atwood of Ocean Safety in Honolulu.

A high surf warning remains in effect for north-facing shores until 6 p.m. Tuesday, with waves of 15 to 20 feet possible as the swell reaches its peak.

Ocean Safety said a lifeguard was posting no-swimming signs along the shoreline when he heard people calling for help and saw swimmers in distress. Lifeguards swam out and brought them all to shore.

“When I was on scene, we had all three patients on the beach,” Atwood said. “One was treated for a cervical injury and two were resuscitated.”

A 63-year-old man could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said he had a California driver's license.

Officials added that a 72-year-old woman was hospitalized in critical condition but later died.

A 41-year-old woman was hospitalized in serious condition. Both women were visiting from Oklahoma.

There is no lifeguard tower at Ke Iki Beach, although lifeguards patrol the area using ATVs and watercraft. The nearest lifeguard tower is about half a mile down the beach at Rock Piles.

This is a big problem for anyone unfamiliar with the area.

“We want people to stay on the beaten path and that means we don't want people to go to some of our remote areas, such as our Ke Iki area, where there is no permanent lifeguard tower,” Atwood said.

Lifeguards in Waimea Bay also warned people to stay away from the dangerous surf. Signs were posted on the beach that were hard to miss.

This was all in an attempt to prevent further tragedies, especially as Ocean Safety prepares for another busy winter season.

Your advice could save your life.

“Watch the surf from a beach park that has a permanent lifeguard station. Adhere to our warning signs. Stay away from caution tape and, most importantly, listen to your lifeguard,” Atwood said.

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