MEDIA RELEASE

A 39-year-old man died Sunday (Nov. 21) from a fall along the North Kohala coast a day earlier.

The victim, identified as Rockne Ching of Kapaau, was attempting to rappel down a 50-foot cliff at a fishing spot known as “Ladders” on Saturday (Nov. 20) when he lost his grip and fell about 20 feet onto the rocks below.

He was air lifted from the area by a Fire Department rescue helicopter and taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital in critical condition. He was later transferred to Maui Memorial Hospital.