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Injured hiker stranded for 3 days alone on Hawaii trail before rescue, officials say

A 58-year-old injured hiker was rescued from the Waahila Ridge Trail on Feb. 19, 2023, in Honolulu, Hawaii, after becoming stranded for three days, rescuers said.
A 58-year-old injured hiker was rescued from the Waahila Ridge Trail on Feb. 19, 2023, in Honolulu, Hawaii, after becoming stranded for three days, rescuers said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

An injured 58-year-old man was stranded alone on a Hawaii trail for three days, fire officials said.

The man was spotted by another person at 1:07 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, near the Waahila Ridge Trail in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, the Honolulu Fire Department said in a news release.

The hiker suffered a medical condition while he was on the trail alone, rescuers said. He then spent days waiting for help.

Rescuers responded to the area in less than 40 minutes and airlifted him from the trail before taking him to emergency services, officials said.

The Waahila Ridge Trail is a 2.4-mile long hike through “dry, mountainous” terrain, according to the Division of State Parks.

The terrain is rated as moderate to difficult with an elevation gain of 500 feet, the agency said.

Rescuers advised hikers to “stay hydrated and prepare for the unexpected” as well as knowing one’s physical abilities and staying on the trail to not get lost.

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This story was originally published February 20, 2023 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Injured hiker stranded for 3 days alone on Hawaii trail before rescue, officials say."

Helena Wegner
McClatchy DC
Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.
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