A man sightseeing at one of the world’s most active volcanoes wanted a better view of the crater – and then fell into it.
Luckily he survived the fall inside Hawaii’s Kilauea caldera but was seriously injured, a Hawaii Fire Fighters Association spokesperson said.
He jumped over a metal railing to get a better view and fell about 70 feet inside the crater onto a narrow ledge after loosing his footing.
US National Park Service spokesman Ben Hayes said he was located at the ledge after more than an hour and airlifted the Hilo Medical Centre for treatment.
His current condition has not been disclosed.
Park rangers took the opportunity to remind visitors to never cross barriers.
"Visitors should never cross safety barriers, especially around dangerous and destabilized cliff edges," John Broward, chief ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said in a statement.
"Crossing safety barriers and entering closed areas can result in serious injuries and death."
It came almost exactly one year since Kilauea erupted causing widespread damage and severely impacted the Big Island’s tourism industry.
The eruption destroyed 700 buildings and displaced thousands.
Although it is currently stable, Kilauea is considered one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
