LIHU'E, Kaua'i -- A fourth person in two days -- this time a 25-year-old visitor from Poland -- has drowned in Kaua'i waters.

The Kaua'i Fire Department reported that the man drowned this afternoon while swimming at Hanakapi'ai Beach on Kaua'i's north shore.

According to witnesses, the man hiked into Hanakapi'ai Valley and decided to jump into the ocean. Within minutes, he was overcome by the strong current and was swept out to sea.

Someone who saw what happened hiked out of the remote valley and notified lifeguards at the nearest guarded beach, Ke'e Beach, at about 11:56 a.m.

A rescue helicopter spotted the victim about 150 to 200 yards from Hanakapi'ai Beach, the department reported. Two lifeguards retrieved the victim with a personal water craft and brought him to firefighters in an inflatable boat.

The man was taken by boat to Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei.

It was the fourth ocean drowning in two days on Kaua'i. Two women visitors were swept out to sea when a large wave struck a ledge at Queen's Bath on the north shore at 3:24 p.m. Sunday.

A Japanese visitor was found unconscious in the ocean in Wailua at 2:54 p.m. Sunday and was brought to shore fronting the Lae Nani condominium.

He was later pronounced dead at Wilcox Hospital.

Yesterday's drowning victims were identified by county officials as Tonya Cataldo, 39, of Parker, Colo.; her sister-in-law Heather Westphal, 33, of Washington, D.C.; and Hiroaki Kinjo, 74, of Japan.

Today's victim has not been identified.