Beach Where NJ Man Drowned Is Known To Be Dangerous: Family

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The loved ones of the 25-year-old Middletown man who was swept out to sea and presumably drowned on a Hawaii vacation this month are now doing everything in their power to prevent others from suffering his same fate.

In fact, Matthew Preziose's boyfriend — who tried to save him as waves pulled both men out to sea — said the exact beach where Preziose drowned is known among Hawaii locals to be extremely dangerous. He said signs are posted at the beach, warning about huge waves and rip currents, but Hawaiian elected officials take them down to preserve the island's reputation as a sought-after vacation destination.

He also said he and Preziose did not see any warning signs when they entered the water that day. He is calling for permanent signs to be erected at Lumaha'i Beach, bearing the name of the man who died.

"This past Saturday, I lost the love of my life at sea during a vacation to paradise, on the island of Kauai," wrote his boyfriend, Nick Slawinski, in this emotional Facebook post on March 10.

The two men were swimming at Lumaha'i Beach, located on the island's north shore, on March 5 when a bystander saw them struggling in the waves and called 911.

Slawinski told the Daily Voice the two were standing in shallow water, but big waves knocked them over and then immediately starting pulled Preziose out to sea. He said he tried to save him, but even as a former lifeguard, he was becoming exhausted by the waves. He also said people on the beach were screaming at him to come back to shore, or he would drown also.

"It was as if a rope was tied around his body and yanked him into the ocean," he told the Daily Voice.

Tragically, he also told the media outlet that Preziose's last words to him were: "I love my family. I don't want to die."

"The locals hang up signs warning the tourists of danger at this beach: No lifeguards, giant waves, riptides, strong currents," wrote Slawinski. "The county of Kauai rips these signs down for sake of saving their #1 resource, which is tourism. Prioritizing tourism over the safety of those tourists is the most f-."

Slawinski said Lumah’i is ranked as one of the best beaches on the island of Kauai.

"Tour guides suggested we swam here," he said.

There is also this TripAdvisor thread that discusses Lumaha'i Beach as an extremely dangerous beach for swimming, with several drownings happening there.

"Be extremely careful of the rips and waves breaking over the rock ledge here ... locals call this place 'Luma-die' because of how many people have drowned or been injured by waves and swept out," wrote someone in 2020.

"Be aware this beach is called Luma-Die because so many people have died here (just Google, some interesting footage too), especially where the river and ocean meet (an ABC reporter died trying to cross). Very treacherous in the winter months," wrote another.

In fact, just two days after Preziose was swept out to sea, a 41-year-old surfer and father of three was similarly swept into the Pacific Ocean, also on Kauai's north shore and only a few miles away from where Preziose drowned. The man had been surfing with his son at Rock Quarry Beach when he was carried out at 7:45 p.m., said the Coast Guard.

Similar to Preziose, the Coast Guard searched for three days for his body and then ended the search. This GoFundMe has been launched for that man's wife and children.

Friends of Preziose launched this Change.org petition to demand official warning signs be posted at Lumaha'i, warning others to avoid swimming there. They want permanent signs posted in Preziose's name warning visitors to the beach that several people have died there.

"It could save lives and prevent another tragedy from occurring. With enough traction, the government officials of Kauai County will be pressured to create change," they wrote.

"Please, please anything you can to fight with us and the local communities of Kauai to make change and future prevention of these tragedies," wrote Slawinski.

According to the Coast Guard, the wave height on Kauai's north shore was at four feet on Sunday, and rose to nine-foot swells by Monday, the day the surfer disappeared. Those are extremely difficult conditions to swim in.

Preziose grew up in Middletown, and graduated from Middletown High School North. He was just launching a career in photography and graphic design. This fundraiser has been launched for his family: https://www.spotfund.com/story...

Prior Patch report: Search Suspended For Middletown Young Man Swept To Sea (March 9)

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