Maui Woman Survives 60 Foot Fall From Nākālele Cliff

Fire crews were called to mile marker 39.5 on Honoapiʻilani Highway to assist Maui police with locating a missing female in an area between the Nākālele blowhole and the Olivine Pools at around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday May 29, 2016.  Nāpili firefighters were on scene at 5:05 p.m. and were informed that the 23-year-old female from Kīhei had been found at the base of a steep cliff.

Although the woman was not moving, she could be heard calling out for help. It’s believed that the victim fell from about 60 feet and landed on the rocky coastline at the water’s edge, according to fire department reports.

Firefighters could not find a safe route to reach the woman and were unable to rappel down because of unsafe conditions.

Since Rescue 10 and the department’s Air 1 helicopter were already engaged in an ongoing rescue incident in Hāna, an engine crew from Kahului was dispatched to respond in Air 2, a backup helicopter.

Air 2 arrived at 6:11 p.m. and lowered firefighters by rope to the inaccessible shoreline. Firefighters packaged the victim and airlifted her to a landing zone set up on the Honoapiʻilani Highway, where she was transferred to paramedics at 6:35 p.m. The woman was taken by ground ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical

Center in serious condition. The medevac helicopter was unavailable because it was already in use at the Hāna rescue incident.

Engine 11, Ladder 3, Engine 10 from Nāpili, Lahaina and Kahului responded along with Air 2 to the rescue call.

Photo courtesy: Maui Fire Dept

Photo courtesy: Maui Fire Dept

Photo courtesy: Maui Fire Dept

Photo courtesy: Maui Fire Dept

Photo courtesy: Maui Fire Dept

Photo courtesy: Maui Fire Dept