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Woman dies after 150-foot fall from zip line on Maui

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A 20-year-old Maui woman died after falling 150 feet from a Maui zipline Thursday morning, authorities said.
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Patricia Rabellizsa was killed Thursday in a fall from a Maui zipline.

A 20-year-old Maui woman died after falling 150 feet from a Maui zip line Thursday morning, authorities said.

The woman, a worker for Piiholo Ranch Zipline, was identified as Patricia “Trish” Rabellizsa.

“The Piiholo Zipline Ohana expresses its condolences and sympathy to those involved in today’s tragic event. We especially offer our deepest aloha and prayers to the family and friends of our co-worker Patricia ‘Trish’ Rabellizsa at this difficult time,” the company said on its Facebook page.

“We are working in full cooperation with the Maui Police Department’s ongoing investigation.”

Piiholo Ranch Zipline offers zip-line tours, treetop canopy tours, and “Xtreme” zip/climb adventure tour.

The Maui Fire Department was called about 9:50 a.m. to the zip-line operation in Upcountry Maui and dispatched crews from Makawao and Kahului and the department’s helicopter.

Rescue crews were hampered by difficult terrain in the gulch where the woman fell, according to fire officials, who said that crews hiked to the woman, who was then airlifted up the ridge.

Zip lines send thrill-seekers gliding along cables at speeds approaching 30 mph. They are often in rural areas, usually over tree canopies, and have been growing in popularity, especially on the neighbor islands. 

In 2011, a Hawaii island zip-line tower collapsed because of weak soil, sending Ted Callaway, 36, of Lahaina plunging to his death. The line was being built along Hawaii island’s Honolii Stream. Another worker was critically injured in the accident. 

Maui has about a half dozen zip-line attractions.

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Mauinow.com reporter Wendy Osher and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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