70-year-old slides 50 feet off Hawaii hiking trail and can’t get back up, officials say

A 70-year-old hiker stumbled off the trail and slid 50 feet down an embankment, Hawaii officials said.

The hiker was stranded after the fall on Sunday, March 27, the Honolulu Fire Department said. He was with a group of four hikers who called 911.

Rescuers headed to the Friendship Garden Trail to help the hiker, according to the fire department.

Firefighters assessed the hiker and determined he had minor injuries. A rescue helicopter flew to the hiker’s location and hoisted the man to safety.

The hiker was taken to emergency medical care about two hours after the group called for help.

The Friendship Garden Trail is a half-mile loop that’s considered an easy hike, according to hiking website All Trails. It usually takes about 20 minutes to complete and is open year-round.

This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 12:02 PM with the headline "70-year-old slides 50 feet off Hawaii hiking trail and can’t get back up, officials say."