The Honolulu Medical Examiner yesterday identified the man who drowned yesterday off Portlock Point in Hawai'i Kai as David Root, 27, of Honolulu.

Authorities said Root became separated from friends as he was swimming near the China Walls surf break.

Bystanders later noticed the man floating in the water and pulled him to a ledge at the bottom of a cliff. They preformed CPR until fire department personnel arrived moments later.

The fire department's Air-1 helicopter airlifted Root to a waiting ambulance. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.