A man who climbed over the railing at Steaming Bluff Overlook tumbled into the Kīlauea caldera at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park/NPS
A man who climbed over a railing to get a closer look into Kīlauea caldera at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park fell about 70 down from the rim and was seriously injured.
Park staff said that about 6:30 p.m. local time Wednesday the man was seen climbing over the metal railing at the Steaming Bluff overlook. He then lost his footing and fell from the cliff, staff said.
"At approximately 9 p.m., the man was found alive but seriously injured on a narrow ledge about 70 feet down from the cliff edge," a park release said. "Rescue personnel successfully completed a high angle extrication using ropes and stokes litter and, with support from a Department of Defense helicopter, the man was airlifted to Hilo Medical Center for urgent care."
The overlook is reaching via a short walk on a trail leading from the Steam Vents parking area to Steaming Bluff, on the caldera's edge. The area is a grassy meadow with ground cracks and steaming concentrated in fractures along the caldera's edge.
The Steaming Bluff Overlook is not far from the park's visitor center/Google maps
Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places
Comments
I live near Hawaii Volcanes National Park and this is the kind of thing that really makes the locals irritated with tourists. This put park rangers and rescue personnel in danger just to save another idiot who can't follow park rules. I mean, really, who climbs the fence to get a better look inside the caldera of a volcano at dusk? Idiots. That's who.
its just not tourists, locals can be more entitled, I've seen it first hand
Agreed! We've been to MANY national parks and there is always that person who thinks that rules and common sense don't apply to them. We've spotted them behind the fence standing perilously close to the rim of Crater Lake, getting extra close to the geysers and wildlife at Yellowstone, parading their children across the alpine tundra (right in front if the "Stay Off the Tundra" signs,) and of course, getting that perfect selfie as they teeter at the edge of the Grand Canyon. It's so sad that their selfishness and thoughtlessness puts rescue crews and psrk personnel at risk...
i totally agree with you, but this is not the majority of tourists. I'd NEVER, ever do something like this, and I love being a tourist. But then again, I'd also not litter.
Who pays for this? Folks do this stupid stuff and not only put their lives at risk but also the lives of the SAR people. This happens in every Park, personal reponsibility people.
So he got fantastic 9hotis and all it took was hurting himself horribly and putting several peoples' lives at risk. Man they sure must be some kick ass photos.
i agree. Why do people still do these things.A volcano is not something I want to get that up close and personal to. Same as in many other parks; if there's a fence up, it's for a reason.
C.J. Peace, I think you are my spirit animal. i couldn't have said it any better!