A 36-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition early Monday after falling the cliff he was fishing off crumbled, causing him to fall 30 feet.
Hawaii Fire Department personnel and Hawaii Police Department officers responded about 3 a.m. Monday to a report of a fisherman in distress at the cliff area off of Paradise Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision.
Upon arrival, it was determined that the man was fishing off of the cliff at the bottom of Paradise Drive, when a large section of the cliff’s edge crumbled causing him to fall approximately 30 feet to the water’s edge below.
Fire rescue personnel extricated the man and transported him to Hilo Medical Center. He was last reported in critical condition with head and neck injuries.
There is no foul play suspected.
Police said “it was an unfortunate incident due to the unstable terrain that he was fishing from.”
Police also reminded the public that even if a person is familiar with an area they should be cautious and aware of their surroundings, and to never fish alone or to make sure someone knows where they are are fishing and can report a mishap.