Firefighter rescued from inside lava tube

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 41-year-old Big Island firefighter survived a 100-foot fall into a lava tube Wednesday during a search-and-rescue mission in the forest area east of Captains Trail and Eden Rock Subdivision in Volcano.

Fire rescue specialist Brent Matsuda was listed in critical condition yesterday at The Queen's Medical Center with head, rib, pelvis and internal injuries, Hawai'i County deputy fire chief Desmond Wery said.

Matsuda has been a Big Island firefighter for 7 1/2 years and was one of the leaders of two-man search teams making their way through a forested area covered with thick underbrush looking for three overdue hunters, said Capt. Raymond Rowe Jr. of Waiakea-based Rescue Co. 2.

"He stepped into a hole with a gap of 5 feet that was covered by fern," Rowe said. "He fell 100 feet."

It took firefighters a couple of hours to get Matsuda out, added Rowe. Two men went down on a rope and Matsuda was brought up on a litter.

He was airlifted out of the forested area by a long-line basket extended from a helicopter. Another helicopter standing by 100 yards away took Matsuda to Hilo Medical Center.

Matsuda was later transferred to Queen's.

The three hunters, meanwhile, came out of the forest on their own.

"There's always a risk to personnel when we go out, especially in this type terrain which is treacherous," Wery said. "But our guys are out there doing it everyday."