Big Island rescue personnel pick up two missing maile pickers
Rescue personnel in the Hawaii County Fire Department helicopter today picked up two maile pickers who had been missing since Monday morning.
The two men were found unhurt in a forest in the Waiohinu area and did not need medical attention, the department said.
The men had been missing since 10 a.m Monday after becoming disoriented in a heavily forested area, a department news release said.
Officials contacted the men via text message and told them to start a fire so the helicopter could find them. Rescue personnel saw the smoke and lowered a rescue net to pick up the men one by one.
The pickers were found 1.5 miles above Lorenzo Road, 1.6 miles northwest of their vehicle, the department said.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!