Two Big Island rescue helicopters helped retrieve an unconscious 39-year-old man who had fallen at a cliff area known as “Ladders” in the Kapaau section of North Kohala about 2 p.m. today.

The victim was flown to the North Hawaii Community Hospital in critical condition.

Hawaii County officials said the Kapaau man was descending a 50-foot cliff with a rope to a remote fishing area when he fell 15 to 20 feet to a rocky coastline that is inaccessible to wheeled vehicles.

The man was going coastline fishing with two friends, men ages 27 and 25, when he fell. The friends called 911 and rendered aid.