Firefighters rescue Big Isle fisherman after fall from cliff
Hawaii island firefighters rescued an 18-year-old Kea’au man who fell approximately 20 feet off a cliff’s edge while fishing at the Mackenzie State Recreation Area late Thursday.
Firefighters responded to a call of a fisherman who slipped and fell from the cliff onto rocks below at about 10:25 p.m.
The Hawaii County Fire Department said he suffered multiple lacerations to his head, shoulder and legs.
His family and friends helped control the bleeding until firefighters arrived. Battalion Chief Michael Hayashida said the injured fisherman was awake and alert.
Firefighters rappelled down the cliff, secured him on a backboard and hoisted him up the cliff to a staging area. From there, medics treated the 18-year-old man and took him to Hilo Medical Center in stable condition.