Hiker, 74, critically injured at Makapuu Lighthouse trail
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STAR-ADVERTISER / FEB. 2015
The Makapu’u Lighthouse as seen from the top of its namesake trail. Paramedics took a 74-year-old man to the hospital in critical condition this morning from the trail.
Paramedics took a 74-year-old man to the hospital in critical condition from the Makapuu Lighthouse trail this morning.
Firefighters responded to a call to help an injured hiker just after 7 a.m.
When paramedics arrived, bystanders had already started CPR.
8 responses to “Hiker, 74, critically injured at Makapuu Lighthouse trail”
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SA How did he get hurt?? Is this going to be another lawsuit for us !!!!
Seniors are reluctant to admit/accept their age and expose themselves to ER rescues. Myself admit no mas.
heart attack?
Never ever been to the Makapuu Lighthouse. What is so dangerous out there? Is the trail too steep? Ungraded? What? Will someone take some pics this particular area that is the source of so much misery? SBA can’t seem to do that.
There’s a paved road that goes clear up to the lighthouse, no real risk there except maybe stepping in a pothole. They also have railings in the lighthouse area to keep folks away from the almost-sheer cliffs. But he might have tried off-roading up the hill to the bunkers. Rough ground and easy to lose your footing if you’re not used to that kind of terrain.
it’s a beautiful scenic route on a paved road, the entire trail is inclined, but, no shade, no water fountains, no comfort area, no picnic tables, no phones.
used to bike there from honolulu almost daily and would run into people of all ages without water of sun protection who underestimated the easy looking paved walkway to the top.
then, there is a trail near the top to a tide pool that runs down from the makai cliff. lots of loose gravel to slip on to twist an ankle and lots of loose rocks and stones to send down onto the heads of anyone walking the trail under you.
so. the paved trail might wear you down with the heat of the sun reflected off the pavement, or, the trail to the tide pool might cause a fall or a head strike from falling rocks, or, the water hazards at the tide pool and waves off the reefs might claim you.
lots of ways to get injured. still, it’s a beautiful spot and most of the time there are whales to be seen in the ocean.
Is the trail down to the tide pools a state created trail, or one created as the result of visitors making their own path? If it’s the latter, people needing emergency care from accidents on that trail should be fined/ticketed.
At 7am, I don’t think sun or heat was the problem. I suspect exhaustion or heart attack from trying to run up the hill as many joggers do that early. That road has gotten very popular since they repaved it last spring and I’ve seen a lot of overweight and out of shape people walking or trying to run to the top to catch the sunrise.