Hiker, 58, rescued after night in Wai'anae Valley

Advertiser Staff

Army and Fire Department personnel yesterday rescued an injured hiker who spent a night in Wai'anae Valley after falling down a 200-foot slope Sunday.

Albert Lowe, 58, of Punchbowl, used his cell phone to guide rescuers to his location. He was lifted off a steep slope by an Army helicopter and flown to The Queen's Medical Center, where he was in guarded condition with a broken right elbow, back and neck injuries, and cuts to the forehead.

"For the fall he took, he is very fortunate to sustain only those injuries," said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo. "His cell phone definitely helped him in the search because we hadn't found him until that point."

Lowe was hiking at the 3,000-foot elevation of the Kamaile'unu Ridge trail when he fell down a 200- to 250-foot slope. Lowe was participating in a Hawai'i Trail and Mountain Club hike Sunday when he became separated from the rest of the group, Soo said.

His family reported him missing at midnight and his car was found at the scene, Soo said. Phil Camero of the police missing persons detail got through to Lowe by cell phone early yesterday morning.

Because Lowe was stuck on a 75-degree angle slope, an Army medical helicopter was called to help lift the man out, Soo said. He was brought out of the valley at 1:30 p.m.