Hawaii man found dead after falling into lava-formed tube
FILE--Ranger Arnold Nakata from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park approaches a skylight in a lava tube to measure the levels of hazardous gases being discharged from the opening near Kalapana, Hawai'i on Friday, April 11, 2008. (AP Photo/David Jordan/File)
HILO, Hawaii — Hawaii police say a man who had been missing for several days was found dead in an underground tube formed by lava.
Police say it appears the man accidentally fell into the tube through a soft area on his property in Hilo on the Big Island.
Lava tubes are formed where lava once flowed and then hardened.
Firefighters responded to a report Monday about the missing man. They rappelled into the lava tube and found his body about 22 feet down.
He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name hasn’t been released.
