A Big Island man died this morning after he and a companion tried to help three kayakers in distress and all were caught in suddenly heavy weather off the Kona Coast.

Big Island firefighters said the couple's 18-foot fishing boat caught fire after crashing into the rocks amid heavy seas and high wind about a half-mile from the entrance to Honokohau Harbor.

The man apparently fell in the water and drowned, and firefighters rescued the woman and one kayaker. A second kayaker made it safely to shore and the third was picked up by other boaters, Big Island firefighters said.

The incident occurred around 9:05 a.m. during a fishing trip that began on a calm, sunny morning and ended amid high winds and heaving seas brought on by the remnant of a winter storm.