A 29-year-old woman fell about 30 feet on Oahu on Dec. 15 and was stranded overnight with a 30-year-old companion after rescue teams postponed an aerial insertion due to darkness, heavy rain and steep terrain. Crews reached the pair by foot the next morning, lowered the injured woman by rope to a cleared landing area, and airlifted her to EMS in serious condition. Officials warned that saturated, muddy trails made hiking hazardous and increased risks for rescuers.
Hiker Falls 30 Feet on Oahu, Stranded Overnight Before Complex Rescue
Honolulu Fire DepartmentFirst responders transported the injured woman to safety via helicopter on Dec. 16.
A 29-year-old woman is in serious condition after falling roughly 30 feet while hiking on Oahu on Dec. 15. She and a 30-year-old hiking partner were stranded overnight on a steep ridge until rescue teams could safely reach them, Honolulu Fire Department officials said.
What Happened
The incident began at 5:26 p.m. local time when first responders were alerted to an injured hiker on the Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail in the Aina Haina neighborhood on Oahu's east side. Aerial rescue units were dispatched and the first rescue team arrived within about 15 minutes to organize an extraction.
Honolulu Fire DepartmentRescuers transferred the woman to EMS after she was brought down from the trail.
Complicated Rescue
The woman had fallen from the Ko'olau Summit Trail and was unable to descend due to significant injuries. Her hiking partner, who was uninjured, reached and stayed with her while crews attempted a helicopter insertion. Officials said heavy rain, steep terrain and darkness made a helicopter drop unsafe, and the aerial attempt was halted just after 1:00 a.m.
Rescue teams resumed operations at first light. Crews reached the pair on foot by 10:56 a.m. and provided on-site care. The injured hiker was then lowered using a complex rope system to a cleared landing area so a helicopter could safely touch down. By about 1:15 p.m., she was airlifted to a nearby landing zone and transferred to emergency medical services.
RugliG/GettyKuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail in Oahu, Hawaii.
Injuries, Aftermath and Warnings
Emergency medical services reported the woman suffered trauma to her head, neck, back and leg, along with multiple abrasions from the fall. She was rushed to an emergency room in serious condition. The uninjured 30-year-old partner was escorted to the ridgeline by fire department crew members and descended the trail with rescuers once the evacuation was complete.
Honolulu Fire Department Captain Jaimie Song warned that saturated, muddy ground and steep slopes made hiking especially hazardous after several days of heavy rain, adding that those conditions also increase risks for first responders working in the dark and on slippery terrain.
The department described the remainder of the operation as extensive due to the dangerous terrain and inclement weather. Local outlets reported the island had experienced intense rainstorms and flooding in multiple areas in the days before the incident.
