Soldier Visiting National Park Falls Into Active Volcano

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A 32-year-old soldier has been rescued after falling in an active volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

According to reports, the man climbed over the railing to get a closer look at the scenery, “lost his footing” and fell off of a 300-foot cliff at Kilauea caldera’s edge. Emergency personnel responded and found him 70 feet down from the cliff edge. They say he was “seriously injured.”

The National Park Service released this statement:

Earlier, at about 6:30 pm, visitors reported that a man lost his footing and fell from a 300 foot cliff at Kīlauea caldera. The man had just climbed over a permanent metal railing at the Steaming Bluff overlook to get closer to the cliff edge. Responders arrived quickly after and began a coordinated search and rescue of the area. At approximately 9 pm, the man was found alive but seriously injured on a narrow ledge about 70 feet down from the cliff edge. 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.

“Visitors should never cross safety barriers, especially around dangerous and destabilized cliff edges,” said Chief Ranger John Broward. “Crossing safety barriers and entering closed areas can result in serious injuries and death.”

As far as we know, the man is recovering in the hospital. It should also be noted that while Kilauea caldera is an active volcano, it’s not erupting at this present time.

Moral of the story: Respect volcano barriers.

Here’s hoping for a full recovery.