Man rescued from Hāmākua cliffside after 15-foot fall

A 50-year-old man was rescued this morning after tumbling 15 feet down a cliffside along the Hāmākua Coast near Waipi‘o Valley.

Hawai‘i Fire Department responded to the rescue at 8:47 a.m. First responders took over 20 minutes to reach the patient due to limited vehicle access and the scene being in a remote area. Once crews arrived on scene, they found the victim sitting on the ledge of a cliff, about 15 feet down.

According to fire officials, the victim had multiple abrasions and was complaining of back pain.

The man was ultimately plucked off the cliff by crews aboard Chopper 1 and was transported to a ground grew. He was taken to Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital without further incident.