Dr Thomas Smiley was on holiday with his wife Gale at their summer home in Maui and had been swimming about 60 yards from the shore when he got into difficulty in the water.
Gale says she had spotted someone struggling in the water but did not initially realise it was him.
It was only when she saw a police rescue unit run past her that she realised it was her husband because of his bathing suit.
Thomas, from Granite Bay, California, was brought out of the water on a jet ski and given CPR but could not be revived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gale, who had been married to Thomas for 42 years and had three kids with him, told ABC News: "I looked out and I thought, well, he was an amazing swimmer, he was a swimmer in school, snorkeler, water skier.
"I thought, that can't be him. So I watched for awhile, and the police rescue unit wave runner started over in our area."
When she realised it was her husband she said she screamed out.
"I must have probably hollered down in horror and got down there and they had him in the ambulance...I saw his face...I was pretty much in shock," Gale said.
Reports say warning signs had been set up along the beach but Gale believes there were none where Thomas was attacked.
She said: "They should've had that warning. It's an unfortunate thing. I come from a family of first responders. He should have been made aware when there was a problem."
But Gale insists she does not want to blame anyone.
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