Man falls off cliff after trying to get closer look at Hawaii volcano eruption
A man visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park fell 30 feet off a cliff while trying to get a closer look at the Kilauea eruption.
USA Today, citing the National Park Service—the US government office managing recreational properties—reported that the tourist, a 30-year-old from Boston, suffered minor facial injuries after straying from the park's Byron Ledge Trail to get a better view of Kilauea's eruption on June 11. He, however, "got too close to the sheer cliff edge."
The agency said a tree stopped his fall, and if it didn't, he might've fallen "another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death."
Rangers, who learned about the situation in the evening, conducted a high-angle rescue by rappelling down the cliff face to reach him and bring him to the ledge.
During that night, Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, was erupting with lava fountains reaching over 1,000 feet. According to the park, evenings are a particularly popular time for visitors to view eruptions and see the lava glow against the night sky.
But the man didn't have a flashlight or a headlamp.
Kilauea, which began erupting in late December, has attracted park visitors who are eager to witness the phenomenon.
More importantly, volcanic eruptions are deemed sacred in Hawaiian culture, as the landscape is believed to be the home of Pelehonuamea, the goddess of creation and destruction.
The park has since warned visitors about the risks of watching volcanic eruptions. "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 previously said.
