KFD rescues injured hiker at Wailua Falls

WAILUA — A 67-year-old male visitor from California slipped while attempting to hike from the lookout area down to the pool below Wailua Falls Friday morning.

According to a preliminary report, first responders received a call from Kaua‘i Police Department dispatch at approximately 10:20 a.m. of the visiting hiker who attempted to go down to the bottom of Wailua Falls from the parking lot.

Shortly after beginning the hike with his family, the male visitor slipped and fell approximately 25 feet off the trail. According to one bystander, a visiting nurse heard the commotion on the trail and went down to assist the hiker.

At 10:35 a.m., firefighters arrived on the scene and made contact with the hiker’s family and the hiker, who appeared to suffer multiple head injuries.

Because of the rescue and terrain complexity, first responders utilized a multipurpose device hauling system to secure and extract the hiker by noon.

The hiker, who was not identified, was treated by personnel with the American Medical Response and later transported to a Wilcox Medical Center.

KPD officers closed off a portion of Ma‘alo Road for approximately two hours while firefighters and rescue specialists rescued the visitor.

KFD personnel with the Lihu‘e and Kapa‘a fire stations, a battalion chief, KPD and AMR responded to the incident, according to a county spokesperson.

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Sabrina Bodon, editor, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.