Big Island of Hawaii Rappel Rescue

[NJFFSA16]

HILO, Hawaii (AP) - Rescue teams on the Big Island lifted five
people to safety from a 60-foot-deep lava hole on the side of Mauna
Kea.
Hawaii County Fire Department rescuers said the two men, a woman
and two teenage boys had used ropes to rappel into the old lava
structure on Sunday but didn't have the strength or equipment to
climb back out.
A sixth person stayed on the surface and used a cell phone to
call for help, said Ron Koehler, head of Mauna Kea Support
Services.
Rescuers used a rope system to pull the people from the hole one
by one. All were in good condition.
Fire rescuers were assisted in the rescue by Mauna Kea Support
Services and Army personnel from Pohakuloa Training Area.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press

[MtnRsq]

I think they should make the subjects go out and jug a couple hundred feet of fixed line so that they don't repeat their little misadventure.

It is always frustrating to hear of someone with the equipment to get themselves into the situation but not have the skills or equipment to extricate themselves. Arrgh!

[lutan1]

Unfortunately in todays culture with the introduction of extreme sports and heaps and heaps of media coverage of the same, many people are trying sports such as climbing and abseiling with little or no training and as is the case with this one, not enough equipment.

As is often said, "A little bit of knowledge can be dangerous...":(