A 30-year-old man from Boston survived a dramatic fall while attempting to get a closer look at the Kīlauea Volcano eruption in Hawaii. The incident occurred on the night of June 11, 2025, on the Byron Ledge Trail in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
A Dangerous Fall from the Cliff
According to NewYorkPost, The tourist was reportedly trying to find the best vantage point to witness the ongoing eruption, the 25th since December, when he lost his footing. As he edged too close to the cliff, the man fell 30 feet (9.14 m). According to officials from the National Park Service, the man was not carrying a flashlight or headlamp when the fall took place around 9 p.m.
Miraculously, the fall was broken by a tree, preventing the man from dropping an additional 100 feet (30.48 m), which could have been fatal. Despite the alarming circumstances, the man sustained only minor facial injuries.
Swift Rescue Operation
Search and rescue teams were already in the area, managing traffic ahead of the eruption. They quickly began searching for the fallen tourist and found him 30 feet (9.14 m) below the cliff. Although he was hanging precariously, the man was eventually rescued and taken to safety.
While waiting for help, the man witnessed the Kīlauea eruption firsthand, as lava shot up to 330 feet into the air, creating a powerful spectacle visible even to those stuck in trees.
A History of Risk-Taking in Hawaii
This incident follows another extraordinary event in Hawaii, where a tourist drove off a 60-foot cliff last year while attempting to find a spot to watch the sunrise. Despite the severity of the situation, the man in that case also survived, walking away with only minor injuries and hypothermia.
In both cases, the tourists narrowly avoided death, highlighting the risks involved when seeking extreme views of Hawaii’s active volcanic landscapes.
