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An American tourist from Boston narrowly escaped a fatal accident after falling 30 feet from a cliff while visiting Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano last week. The 30-year-old man was attempting to get a closer look at the volcanic eruption when he strayed from the Byron Ledge Trail and got too close to the edge, according to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials.
The tourist's fall was broken by a tree, preventing him from plummeting another hundred feet to the caldera floor, which could have been deadly. Search and rescue teams, already in the area to manage traffic, began their efforts around 9 p.m. after reports of the incident. They successfully rescued the man, who was not carrying a flashlight or headlamp, by rappelling down the cliff. He sustained only minor facial injuries.
Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, was erupting with lava fountains over 1,000 feet high at the time of the accident. The park had previously warned visitors to exercise caution, especially after a recent incident where a child nearly fell into the volcano. Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh emphasized the importance of visitor safety, stating, "National parks showcase nature’s splendor but they are not playgrounds."
The National Park Service has safety measures in place, including closed areas and barriers, to protect visitors from the hazards of the eruption, which include toxic gases and volcanic particulates.