A Canadian tourist is in the hospital recovering after driving their Jeep off a cliff and into an ocean on Hawaii’s Big Island.
On Sunday (February 25) around 3:30 a.m., firefighters, police and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a call at the cliffs of South Point in Naalehu. According to ABC News, officials claimed the call was about a swimmer in distress in the ocean.
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Police said a 27-year-old man was visiting from the Canadian province of British Columbia when he was driving in the early morning dark on the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island. Officials said the tourist accidentally drove his rented Jeep off a cliff, they believe he may have taken a wrong turn down a hill just before going over the edge and landing upside down.
Fortunately, he survived the plummet and crash, which was about a 50 to 60-foot drop (15-18 meters), and was able to swim to shore, about 100 yards, until emergency personnel could rescue him.
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Upon their arrival, officials with the Hawaii County Fire Department were able to pull the Canadian tourist out of the water using a rope and a helicopter. After being rescued, the man was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for “facial injuries” and “scratches,” as a result of the crash, plus mild hypothermia.
According to FOX affiliate KHON-TV, a nearby fisherman watched the Jeep go over the cliff. Another man named Michael Moody and his dive partner were awakened and later told the outlet what he witnessed. Moody said, “If he didn’t see it, the guy would have died 100%.”
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The fisherman said the tourist “fell immediately in the water” upon opening the Jeep’s passenger side door. The tourist wasn’t able to exit the driver’s side door as it was pinned shut but eventually was able to get out.
According to Hawaii Island Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, it took emergency crews nearly 30 minutes to reach the remote area where the crash occurred. Todd told KHON-TV that crews “coached” the man as he “swam to a safe area,” where ropes were thrown to help rescue the man as well.
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