Visitor taken to Hilo Medical Center after jumping off a waterfall, hitting his head on a rock

A 30-year-old man was taken to Hilo Medical Center after jumping off a waterfall into the Wailuku River in North Hilo and hitting his head on a rock six feet below the water’s surface.

Hawai‘i Fire Department responded to the scene, located 800 feet beyond 286 Kaiulani Street, at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, first responders climbed down 30 to 40 feet where they found the victim had been assisted to shore by two friends.

Emergency responders secured his spine and he was airlifted out of the area to Clem Akina Park then transferred to an awaiting ambulance that took him to Hilo Medical Center.

The man was in stable condition at the scene.

Editor’s note: This story is updated to reflect that the victim was airlifted out of the cliff area and taken to the hospital the rest of the way via ambulance.