Man survives falling 115 feet at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Search and Rescue Ranger John Broward stands at the location behind Volcano House where the man fell 115 feet onto Halemaumau Trail on Tuesday.
Search and Rescue Ranger John Broward and helicopter pilot David Okita lift Harry Osachy to safety Tuesday.
This is the 'uluhe fern thicket where Harry Osachy was found after he fell down a 115-foot cliff above Halema'uma'u Trail.
A man who survived after falling 115 feet at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was rescued by park rangers Tuesday after being stranded overnight.
Park officials said 73-year-old Harry Osachy of Kurtistown had been climbing over a barrier when he fell down a sheer cliff behind Volcano House in the park.
At about 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a hiker reported to park rangers that she heard someone crying for help along Halema‘uma‘u Trail among thick vegetation.
Rangers found Osachy and the park’s search and rescue coordinator was lowered by helicopter and pulled him to safety just before nightfall.
Osachy told rescuers that he had fallen on Monday. The exact time is unknown park officials said.
He was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center, with injuries to his pelvis and shoulder. He had numerous scrapes and suffered from dehydration.
“Luckily, he landed in a dense thicket of native ‘uluhe fern, which broke his fall,” park search and rescue coordinator John Broward said.
