Three visitors apparently drowned today on Kaua'i, two on the north shore and another in Wailua.

The deaths of two women, ages 33 and 38 who are sisters-in-law from Washington, D.C., and Parker, Colo., respectively, and a male visitor from Japan, 74, occurred at shortly before 3 p.m., according to county officials.

The women were knocked off a ledge at Queen's Bath by a large wave and swept out to sea at 2:54 p.m. Their bodies were recovered by firefighters and lifeguards from Hanalei. One of the victim's husbands attempted to rescue them, but the strong current forced him to return to shore.

Two firefighters swam out to retrieve one of the victims and waited until lifeguards arrived on jet skis. The lifeguards were transporting the first victim when they found the second woman about 75 to 100 yards away.

Both women were taken to the beach fronting Princeville at Hanalei and transported them to the Hanalei fire station.

The visitor from Japan was found unresponsive in the water, also at 2:54 p.m., and brought to shore fronting the Lae Nani condominium. Rescue specialists from the Lihu'e fire station and medics responded and found bystanders performing CPR on the man when they arrived.

The man was taken to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

County officials did not release names of the victims.