Hawaii County police are investigating the death of a 49-year-old man from Osaka, Japan, who appears to have drowned.

Police said the man, who was spotted floating facedown about 50 yards offshore, was pulled from the ocean Friday morning in Waipio Valley.

The man’s friends brought him to shore and, with help from bystanders, administered CPR until first responders arrived.

Police and fire personnel responded at 9:23 a.m.

The Hawaii County Fire Department flew the man by helicopter out of the valley, and he was taken by ambulance to Hale Hoola Hamakua, where he was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m.

Detectives are continuing the investigation, which is classified as a coroner’s inquest.

An autopsy performed Friday morning determined the preliminary cause was drowning.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 935-3311 or contact Detective Tuck Loy Aurelio at 961-2385 or Tuckloy.Aurelio@hawaiicounty.gov.