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HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – A man was seriously injured last Wednesday after crossing a security fence in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and collapsed 18 meters from the Kilauea Volcano Caldera.
Remarkably, rather than collapsing on the floor of the caldera, the man fell about 70 feet and landed on a narrow ledge. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
The man of about thirty years was removed from the caldera around 9:40 pm.
Ben Hayes, acting spokesman for the park and chief of interpretation, said that another visitor had seen the man fall off the cliff at about 6:30 pm, around 6:30 pm. and immediately alerted the authorities.
Hayes said the man had fallen after climbing onto a metal railing at the Steaming Bluff to get a better view. It was at this moment that the soil beneath him apparently gave way.
Remarkably, rather than collapsing on the floor of the caldera, the man fell about 70 feet and landed on a narrow ledge.
Chief Ranger John Broward said in a statement:
"Visitors should never cross the safety gates, especially near the dangerous and destabilized edges of the cliffs. Crossing safety barriers and entering closed areas can result in death or serious injury. "
Matthias Kusch, chief of the county fire brigade of Hawaii, said the rescuers were able to rappel down to the man, secure him on a stretcher and bring him to the surface.
He was flown to the Hilo Medical Center.
"He is obviously doing remarkably well for his fall. Only time will tell what wounds he has, "Kusch added.
Several park and county rescue teams collaborated on the rescue operations. The night fell and the wind would have made the rescue difficult.
"Conditions are a factor for our team tonight," Hayes said.
"Very dark, however, they are very well trained and skilled in search and rescue techniques, especially the high-angle rescues we are currently doing."
The last fatal accident in the park took place on October 29, 2017.
Copyright 2019 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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