Man, Woman Rescued After Fall Down Gulch Near Kukaiau

A man and a woman were rescued after they slipped and fell underneath a bridge near the 33-mile marker on Route 19 near Honoka`a Sunday night.

Personnel from the Hawaii Fire Department responding to a 7:59 p.m. call found a 42-year-old man about 60 feet down a gulch and a 27-year-old woman 30 feet down the ravine. Both had suffered injuries, with the man’s condition considered critical.

Rescuers used a long line to rescue the male patient who was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital. The woman was next to be rescued, and was taken to the Waimea hospital in serious condition.

It took the department personnel about four hours to complete the rescue and transport the victims to the hospital.

The department was notified of the incident through a 911 call from bystanders.