by David Corrigan

KALAPANA, Hawaii – There’s been a death on the lava fields in Kalapana.

Fire officials say they responded to a report of a person unable to walk near the lava viewing shortly after 3 p.m.

A friend of the victim said they were hiking all day and the victim was in physical distress on the lava field, and unable to find him.

A ground and air search was conducted and the 56 year old male was eventually discovered on the lava field near Kalapana Gardens Subdivision. He was transported out by helicopter but determined to be dead on arrival.