The intense hunt for a missing teenager in Hawaii concluded after authorities found human remains in the area where he vanished.
Nineteen-year-old Matthew Packard-Asai was last spotted on January 28 near the shores of Kahili Beach, situated on Kaua’i island.
After a three-day search operation, efforts were halted on Saturday following the discovery of remains believed to belong to Packard-Asai in the adjacent waters.
“Positive identification is pending DNA confirmation,” the police noted in an official statement.
“We request that the family’s privacy be honored as the identification process proceeds,” the statement continued.
According to officials, Packard-Asai and a companion were swept into the ocean by treacherous currents while they were fishing.
Emergency personnel responded to a preliminary report about the fishermen after 12.15pm.
Witnesses said Packard-Asai swam as hard as he could against the waves as onlookers tried to pull him to safety, reported KITV.
Matthew Packard-Asai, 19, was swept into the ocean while fishing with friends in Hawaii
First responders received a distress call that two swimmers had been pulled into the ocean
While Packard-Asai’s friend was recovered, the teen’s disappearance prompted a multi-agency search
The US Coast Guard, local search and rescue and the American Red Cross participated in the three day search
‘He wasn’t unconscious — he was swimming — and they kept yelling at him to swim out, to not swim towards the rocks,’ remembered Packard-Asai’s hanai father, Kyle Doepke.
‘Hanai father’ loosely translated means ‘adopted father’ in Hawaiian.
Packard-Asai’s friend was successfully brought back to shore and sustained only a leg injury, according to a press release from the Kaua’i Fire Department.
The frantic search for Packard-Asai scoured land, air and sea with the help of the Coast Guard, Kaua’i Police and Fire Departments, Kaua’i Search and Rescue, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Kaua’i Chief of Police Elliott Kalani Ke thanked volunteers and first responders who participated in the rescue mission.
‘We also want to express our appreciation to our partners and the community members who supported the search for Matthew,’ he said.
Remains that officials believed belonged to Packard-Asai were found on Saturday
The remains were found in the water near Kahili Beach on the island of Kaua’i
Officials scoured the land, air and sea in hopes of finding the missing teenager.
Kaua’i Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson issued a statement to Packard-Asai’s family.
‘Our thoughts are with Matthew and his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,’ he said.
‘We are deeply grateful to all the agencies and volunteers who worked tirelessly in this search, and we extend our heartfelt support to Matthew’s family as they navigate the days ahead.’
Doepke realized he may never see the teen again within ‘the first few hours of that rescue.’
‘He was just such a pure, truly hearted kid, and he exemplified that to a lot of kids,’ he said.
‘I hate to call it broken homes, but that also comes from dysfunction, right? And he was, he’s one that came from that kind of scenario himself, but would always hold this light for other kids.’
The Daily Mail contacted the Kaua’i Fire Department, Kaua’i Police and the Kaua’i County for more information.
