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28 Hours Trapped Inside Active Volcano After Deadly Crash
10 Feb
Summary
- Helicopter carrying film crew crashed near Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano.
- Crew survived 28 hours trapped, choking on toxic fumes and heat.
- One crew member climbed 300-ft cliff to escape the volcano.
In November 1992, a film crew experienced a near-fatal accident while shooting near Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano. The helicopter carrying cinematographer Christopher Duddy and two others experienced engine failure, crashing inside the volcano's caldera. The survivors found themselves trapped on a ledge, engulfed by toxic fumes and the intense heat of the lava lake, approximately 50 yards away.
For 28 hours, Duddy and his colleagues battled for survival, choking on sulfurous air and facing a perilous 300-foot cliff as their only escape route. Duddy, despite a fear of heights, led the climb, fueled by adrenaline and the will to live. The treacherous ascent involved scrambling over unstable lava rock, with a constant threat of falling debris.
Rescue efforts were hampered by severe weather and the dangerous conditions on the volcano's rim. After a terrifying night perched on a ledge, Duddy managed to climb to the rim and find a path to a deserted camp. He was eventually airlifted to safety, followed by his colleagues who were rescued on subsequent days.
