Firefighters used Likelike Highway as a landing pad last night after bringing out an injured visitor from Spain who fell 10 to 15 feet at a popular Kalihi Valley swimming hole known as "ice pond."

"It would have been difficult if we had to hike him out because of the steep terrain," fire department Battalion Chief James "Kimo" Perkins said.

A Kalihi Uka company, Fire Rescue 2 based at Kalihi Kai and HFD's helicopter were involved in the rescue, which began at 6:03 p.m. The injured man, 29, suffered injuries to his forehead, shoulder and neck. "He couldn't have walked out," Perkins said.

A church parking lot near the end of Kalihi Street was the first choice for the helicopter to land and turn the patient over to Emergency Medical Services personnel. But it was unavailable because a service was being held.

"We had to find a landing zone close enough" to where the injured man had been put into the rescue basket suspended under the helicopter, Perkins said.

The choice was Likelike Highway's Kane'ohe-bound lanes about a mile from Wilson Tunnel. Police closed those lanes at Likelike and Valley View Drive for 10 to 15 minutes.

The transfer was made about 7 p.m. The man was taken in serious condition to The Queen's Medical Center, said EMS spokesman Bryan Cheplic.

According to Kalihi Uka 2nd Platoon Capt. John Bowers, the man was climbing a swing rope when he slipped. The visitor was with five others — a man and two women from Spain, a man who lives here and another who recently moved from Minnesota — at "ice pond."

Firefighters hiked about a mile in from the end of Kalihi Street and prepared the patient to be airlifted out, Bowers said.

The man's companions hiked out, HFD spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.