Search Continues For Missing NJ Man Swept Offshore In Hawaii

KAUA'I, HI — The U.S. Coast Guard has continued its search Tuesday for a 25-year-old Middletown man who was swept into the Pacific Ocean while vacationing in Hawaii.

The missing young man has been identified by police as Matthew Preziose, 25, who grew up in Middletown, and is a recent graduate of Middletown High School North.

Preziose was last seen Saturday afternoon, swimming with a companion about 200 yards off the beach at Lumaha'i, on the north shore of Kauai, according to a statement from the Coast Guard. A bystander on the beach called 911, seeing two swimmers in distress. The other swimmer made it back ashore but Preziose was carried further out to sea.

He has not been found as of Tuesday afternoon.

A very close friend of the family's in Middletown, who did not want to be named, said the young man was on a vacation.

The Coast Guard continued its search for Preziose on Tuesday, said U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Matthew West, who is based in Hawaii. He said the Coast Guard specifically was dropping buoys from helicopters on Tuesday, to make drift models in the ocean currents to show them in which direction they should be looking.

At 1:07 p.m. Saturday, Kauai County Dispatch received a report from a good Samaritan at Lumaha’i beach, who said they witnessed two swimmers in distress about 200 yards off the beach.

One of the swimmers was able to make it back to the beach, but the second, Preziose, was swept out to sea.

West said he did not know what the ocean conditions were on Saturday, but he did say there were wave heights of up to four feet on Monday, which can be difficult swimming conditions.

"The male swimmer is described as wearing dark-blue shorts, no shirt and three gold chains," said the Hawaii Coast Guard in this alert. "Waterway users are requested to keep a sharp lookout for signs of distress and anyone with information is requested to contact the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600."

The Coast Guard immediately deployed a 45-foot boat and Jet Skis to look for the missing young man, and is now using MH-65 Dolphin helicopters.

Initial Patch report: Middletown Man Swept Out To Sea In Hawaii: Police (March 7)

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