A 57-year-old hiker in Kauai, Hawaii had to be airlifted via helicopter due to a “rapidly worsening infection” likely stemming from a spider bite. The hiker texted emergency services at 9:44 a.m. on October 29th explaining that he was experiencing fever and weakness and was unable to hike out under his own power.
The Kauai Fire Department responded and flew him to the town of Waimea on the southern part of the island where he was assessed and transferred to a local hospital.
The hiker was on the Kalalau Trail, a 20-mile trek along the remote Na Pali Coast. AllTrails describes the hike as going through lush jungle with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains.
It’s unclear if the hiker was bitten while on the trail or before commencing. According to the Hawaii Department of Health, there are two dangerous spiders whose bites could require medical attention on the islands: the southern black widow and the brown widow.
“The brown widow is a little smaller than the black widow and its venom is twice as potent as the black widow’s venom,” the site reads. “However, the brown widows don’t inject as much venom and are generally less aggressive in defending their webs.”
There has been no update on the condition of the rescued hiker.
