A 9-year-old boy was rescued Monday by Big Island firefighters after he slipped down a 100-foot-embankment off Old Mamalahoa Highway near Ka'ula Gulch in the Laupahoehoe area.

More than two dozen firefighters were called to the area during the rescue effort, which began about 11:30 a.m.

Rescue crew members were lowered to the bottom of the gulch, placed the boy in a rescue basket and brought him back to the top, fire officials said.

The child was taken to North Hawai'i Community Hospital in stable condition.