A 30-year-old Boston man is lucky to be alive after falling 30 feet off a steep cliff at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park while attempting to get a closer look at an active eruption.
Park officials report the man went off the Byron Ledge Trail on the evening of June 11th without a flashlight in an attempt to view the Kīlauea volcano eruption and ended up falling over the heavily vegetated cliff face. In a stroke of luck, the man’s fall was broken by a tree preventing him from “plunging another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor” which easily could have killed him.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park search and rescue team responded to scene and rappelling down to the man and hoisted him to safety. The man only suffered minor facial injuries. Park officials want to use the incident as a reminder to stay on trails at National Parks.
“We can’t say this enough: stay on trail and come prepared when you visit your national parks!” -Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Press Release:
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park first responders rescued a male visitor who fell 30 feet from a steep cliff after venturing off Byron Ledge Trail Wednesday night, June 11th.
The 30-year-old Boston man suffered minor facial injuries. He told search and rescue rangers that he wanted a closer look at the Kīlauea volcano eruption and got too close to the sheer cliff edge. He did not have a flashlight or headlamp. Park dispatch was notified of the incident around 9 p.m.
The park’s well-trained search and rescue team, who were managing eruption traffic, responded quickly and performed a high-angle rescue that involved rappelling down the steep, heavily vegetated cliff face and hoisting the man to safety. A tree had broken the man’s fall and prevented him from plunging another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death.
Park rangers, trail signs, the brochure, website and social media consistently educate people about volcanic hazards:
• Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not approach earth cracks or cliff edges, the edge is often unstable, undercut, or hidden by vegetation or loose rocks.
• Do not climb over rock walls, railings, or safety barriers, they are there for your safety.
• Keep a close eye on everyone in your group, especially children.
• Carry a flashlight or headlamp at night and always wear sturdy footwear with good traction when hiking.
Kīlauea volcano has drawn a surge of visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park since it began erupting December 23, 2024. The June 11th eruption, which started around noon and ended at 8:08 p.m., was the 25th episode with lava fountains that reached more than 1,000 feet and fed voluminous flows on the crater floor. The eruption is in a closed area of the park due to its serious hazards but is visible from many overlooks along the caldera rim.
