Visitor rescued from Hawaii Volcanoes park after falling 30 feet off cliff
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Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spews stunning lava fountains
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewed lava fountains exceeding 1,000 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
A Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor was rescued by first responders Wednesday night after falling 30 feet off a steep cliff while trying to get a closer look at the Kilauea volcanic eruption, according to park officials.
The 30-year-old man from Boston suffered minor facial injuries, according to the National Park Service. He had strayed from the popular Byron Ledge Trail to get a better view of the eruption, but "got too close to the sheer cliff edge," according to a Friday press release.
A tree broke his fall, otherwise he risked plunging "another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death," according to the release.
Rangers were notified of the incident at around 9 p.m. They saved the visitor in a high-angle rescue, rappelling down the cliff face to hoist him back up to the ledge.
On the day of the accident, the volcano – considered one of the world's most active – was spewing lava fountains of more than 1,000 feet. Evenings are an especially popular time for park visitors to visit eruptions and watch the lava glow against the night sky. However, the park said the man did not have a flashlight or headlamp.
Raw Hawaii: Why you need a whole day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Since Kilauea began erupting in late December, the park has seen an increase in visitors coming to witness the natural spectacle, with congested parking lots and crowded overlooks. Eruptions are also considered a sacred event in Hawaiian culture as this landscape is believed to be the home of Pelehonuamea, goddess of creation and destruction.
The park said it consistently warns visitors about the safety hazards of watching the volcanic eruptions.
During the initial eruption, the park released a public warning, saying that a toddler wandered off from his family and ran toward a 400-foot cliff edge on Christmas Day.
"Those who ignore the warnings, walk past closure signs, lose track of loved ones, and sneak into closed areas to get a closer look do so at great risk," the park had said following the close call.
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