Tourist from California gets stranded alone on Hawaii trail, officials say

A woman visiting Hawaii from California became stranded alone on a hiking trail when she tripped and hurt her ankle, fire officials said.

The 31-year-old was hiking alone on Friday, Dec. 3, and hurt her right ankle, according to the Honolulu Fire Department. She called 911 at about 10 a.m. for help because she couldn’t make it back down the mountain on her own.

The woman was hiking on the Koko Crater Trail, a popular, steep trail that goes 1.6 miles up a mountain. It has views of the shoreline and bay, according to hiking website AllTrails.

The hike consists of more than 1,000 steps to the top of the Koko Crater.

Sixteen rescuers responded to the injured woman to help. Four firefighters hiked to the woman, the Honolulu Fire Department said.

She was given a splint on her right leg for her injury, officials said. Then a helicopter crew transported her to a “landing zone,” according to the fire department.

The woman was then taken to get medical care at 10:47 a.m., officials said.

Rescuers were able to reach the woman because she called for help and stayed on the trail.

Officials said all hikers should bring a fully charged cell phone with them on a hike, and no one should wander off a trail if they are hurt or lost.

“Know your physical abilities and limitations,” fire officials said. “Select trails that can be enjoyed safely.”

In October, a viral Facebook post told hikers to change their cell phone voicemails if they get lost or injured. Rescuers, however, said that’s a bad idea.

“To be blunt, wasting time changing your voicemail could be the last thing you do,” the Halifax Search and Rescue team in Canada said. “If you don’t call for help, and you didn’t leave a trip plan, NOBODY IS COMING TO GET YOU.”

Lost or injured hikers should always call 911 first. Then they should send a detailed text message to “trusted contacts” to help rescuers find them faster.

Hikers can also save cell phone battery life by turning off WiFi and Bluetooth settings.