Near tragedy at Kīlauea: Boy rescued from volcano's edge
After the event, which ended happily, although it came close to disaster, the national park authorities in Hawaii issued a warning for tourists. It was a near miss, as a small boy almost fell off the slope of an active volcano.
According to the park, the boy had wandered away from his family and ran directly towards the 120-metre cliff of the Kīlauea volcano. The child was just one foot away from the edge of the slope.
"His mother, screaming, managed to grab him," park representatives recounted. Park ranger Jessica Ferracane, who witnessed the incident, told the BBC that she hopes sharing details of the incident in the media will help "prevent future tragedies."
On the edge of the volcano: Boy nearly fell into active volcano
Kīlauea, a volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, is one of the most active in the world. It erupts regularly, most recently on 23rd December 2024.
The volcanic eruption in Hawaii does not significantly impact human settlements, and the geological phenomenon can be admired by visiting the national park.
The incident reported by the park authorities took place on Christmas Day. In a closed section of the park, tourists - mostly families with children - had gathered to watch the lava.
Park rangers remind people on social media of the importance of sticking to the trail and keeping track of children. "Those who ignore the warnings, walk past closure signs, lose track of loved ones, and sneak into closed areas to get a closer look do so at great risk," Ferracane emphasised.
The ranger added that the incident occurred in a region with a view of the caldera – a large crater of the volcano. If the boy had slid down the slope, he would not have survived the fall.
