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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tourist having panic attack mobilizes helicopter rescue

Advertiser Staff

Kaua'i fire rescue workers yesterday airlifted a 22-year female visitor and her 20-year-old brother from Kalalau Valley.

The hikers were dropped off at Ke'e Beach, and did not require medical treatment, the county said in a news release.

Police received a call about 12:29 p.m. yesterday from the hikers' father, who had hiked out of Kalalau Valley and reported that his daughter was having an anxiety attack and was unable to hike out of the valley.

Her brother stayed behind with her.

Two rescue specialists from the Líhu'e fire station flew into the valley on an Inter-island Helicopters aircraft, picked up the two visitors at the Kalalau landing pad and released them to their father at Ke'e Beach, the county said.