Visitor rescued at night after falling off cliff in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

A male visitor who fell 30 feet down a steep cliff in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after venturing off Byron Ledge Trail Wednesday night was rescued by first responders.

The 30-year-old Boston man suffered minor facial injuries, according to HVNP.

He told search and rescue rangers that he wanted a closer look at the Kilauea volcano eruption and got too close to the sheer cliff edge. He did not have a flashlight or headlamp.

Park dispatch was notified of the incident around 9 p.m. Wednesday.

The park’s search and rescue personnel, who were managing eruption traffic, responded quickly and performed a high-angle rescue that involved rappelling down the steep, heavily vegetated cliff face and hoisting the man to safety.

A tree had broken the man’s fall and prevented him from plunging another 100 or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death, according to HVNP.

Rangers urge all visitors to the park to stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not approach earth cracks or cliff edges; the edge is often unstable, undercut or hidden by vegetation or loose rocks. Visitors also should carry a flashlight or headlamp at night and wear sturdy footwear with good traction when hiking.

Kilauea volcano has drawn a surge of visitors to HVNP since it began erupting Dec. 23, 2024.

The June 11 eruption, which started around noon and ended at 8:08 p.m., was the 25th episode, with lava fountains that reached more than 1,000 feet high.

The eruption is in a closed area of the park due to its serious hazards but is visible from many overlooks along the caldera rim.