A 25-year-old man was rescued by firefighters Sunday afternoon after he fell into Kalihi Stream.
The man, who gave his name only as Lexie, said he was on a walk near the intersection of King and Bannister streets when the wind blew his red umbrella over the rock wall, sending it about 25 feet below to a grassy portion of the stream.
Not exactly dressed for the occasion — in a black spaghetti-strap top, denim shorts and high-heeled sandals — Lexie tried to climb down a chain-link fence but cut his left foot and fell several feet.
"I fell down there and I was stuck," he said after his rescue. "That’s it. That’s what all of this started from."
Police officer Edwin Ventura said a bystander waved police down after seeing the man in the stream.
Fire Capt. Carlton Yamada said firefighters were dispatched at about 12:28 p.m. to a report of a "person’s foot stuck in the canal."
A crowd gathered at the top of the bridge.
Taxi driver Emosi Finau, 69, stopped his cab and ran over to see what the fuss was all about. He said the subject of the rescue appeared to be in no distress.
"She was just looking at the mirror and talking to herself, all smiling," he said.
"I thought she hurt or she fell down or what. No, she go like this to us," he said, waving his hand.
Acting Battalion Chief John Bowers said firefighters lowered a 24-foot ladder, and firefighters wrapped a yellow rescue buoy around Lexie and guided him up the ladder at about 1:10 p.m.
Ventura said Lexie sustained a 11⁄2-inch gash to the bottom of his big toe. Paramedics treated and released him at the scene.
Ventura said Lexie got his umbrella.
