Teen hospitalized after fall at Onomea Bay

A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized Saturday after falling into the water at Onomea Bay.

Responding to the 12:44 p.m. alarm, fire rescue personnel arrived 10 minutes later at Onomea Bay to learn a semi-conscious 14-year-old boy had accidentally fell into the water and for a time was submerged in the nearshore rocky surf zone, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. Bystanders entered the water and helped the victim back to a steep access point along the shoreline embankment.

When fire rescue personnel arrived, the two bystanders were with the victim and wedged in a crack at the bottom of the rocky embankment in order to find protection from the waves. Fire department personnel extricated the victim to a low cliff and then carried him out to an awaiting medic some 1,600 feet away via the Onomea Bay Trail.

The patient was treated at the scene and then transported to Hilo Medical Center. No additional information was available on the boy’s condition as of press-time.