HFD rescues hikers from Diamond Head, Makiki trails

The Honolulu Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter participated in separate hiker rescues on trails in Diamond Head and Makiki today.

A 911 call at 12:41 p.m. reported that a 67-year-old man hiking with others on the Diamond Head Crater Trail had a medical condition and was unable to continue independently. HFD responded with six units, 17 personnel. The first unit arrived at 12:49 p.m., and rescuers ascended the trail on foot to search for the hiker while other units secured a nearby landing zone for Air 1, HFD said.

Rescuers were able to locate the sick hiker and arrived at his location at 1:04 p.m. A medical evaluation was performed and basic life support treatment was administered, HFD said. He was then secured in a rescue basket and carried to the helicopter landing pad at the top of the trail to be loaded into Air 1, which flew him to the landing zone where his medical care was transferred to an Emergency Medical Services ambulance at 1:15 p.m.

Earlier in the day, HFD received a 911 call at 9:33 a.m. about a 59-year-old man who was injured while hiking with another individual on the Makiki Trail. Six units with 17 personnel responded, with the first unit arriving at 9:42 a.m. While rescuers headed up the trail on foot, additional units secured a nearby landing zone for Air 1.

Rescuers reached the hiker at 10:10 a.m. and he was safely airlifted to the landing site, where his medical care was transferred to the emergency room at 10:50 a.m., HFD said.