Tengrinews.kz – A 30-year-old American man miraculously survived after falling off a cliff near the Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii. He was trying to get closer to the lava but lost his bearings in the dark and fell from a height, People reports.
The incident took place on the evening of June 11 on the Byron Ledge trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. According to park officials, the man told rescuers himself that he had pushed through the brush to get a “better view” of the eruption. At the time, he had no flashlight or headlamp.
He fell 9 meters, and a tree saved him from a more serious 30-meter fall.
A rescue team quickly arrived on the scene and used climbing equipment to extract the injured man from the cliff. He sustained only minor facial injuries.
The Kīlauea eruption that day was the 25th so far this year. Lava fountains were reaching heights of up to 300 meters, flowing across the crater floor. The area had been officially closed due to danger.
Park authorities reminded visitors to follow safety rules:
- Stay on marked trails;
- Do not approach cliff edges;
- Do not climb over barriers;
- Use flashlights during evening hikes;
- Wear sturdy footwear.