A hiker who fell about 200 feet from a ledge near the Makaha Valley Tower Condominiums yesterday was found at about 7:20 a.m. today by Honolulu Fire Department personnel.

The HFD helicopter (Air -1) and crews of firefighters with flashlights searched for the hiker until about 10 last night when the search was called off because of darkness and bad weather.

They resumed the search at daybreak and Air-1 spotted the man about 200 yards makai of two water tanks on the mountain, about one-fourth mile before the Makaha Valley Plantation condominiums, Fire Capt. Earle Kealoha reported.

The man, in his 20s, had suffered multiple injuries that were apparently fatal, Kealoha said. Rescue specialists prepared him for transport by Air -1 using a Billy Pugh life net. He was taken to a command post established on Mauna Olu Place where he as examined by emergency medical services personnel.

The victim and a friend began a hike early yesterday afternoon and were attempting to return to the starting point when rain and cloud cover hampered their return, according to the Fire Department report.

The HFD received a rescue call at about 5:45 p.m. from the victim’s friend, who made his way off the trail. EMS personnel treated him for injuries that weren’t life-threatening and he hiked back with firefighters to help them find the spot where his friend fell.

The HFD reminds “citizens and visitors alike that although the beauty of our islands can be seen so much clearer from he tops of our island’s mountains, ridges and valleys and the view from those vantage points are breathtaking, there are also inherent dangers present when anyone goes out on a hike.”

Hikers are advised to make adequate preparations before setting out, with minimum equipment and proper clothing.

The HFD also advises hikers to inform family and friends of their route, give them an anticipated time-frame for the hike, pre-plan the route and understand possible challenges, take water and some food, a jacket, flashlight or other signaling device and “use extreme caution when walking along steep ledges or other shear natural features of the landscape.”