An elderly gentleman live on in Hawai’i died earlier this hebdomad after fall through a lava tube in his backyard , local authorities cover .

official found the mankind at his residence around 8:30 in the morning after being notified that he had not been take care or get a line from in several days .

“ It appear that he had fallen through a flabby surface area of ground into a lava tube on his attribute , ” write the Hawai’i Police Department ( HPD ) in astatement . “ Hawai’i Fire Department Rescue personnel department responded to the conniption and were able-bodied to push back into the lava tube and extract the dupe , whose body was approximately 22 foot [ 6.7 meters ] below the surface . "

The homo was transport to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead – no foul play is expected . An autopsy determined that the “ victim died as a result of accidental injury consistent with diminish . ”

“ It appears ( the victim ) was trimming some branches in his thousand and fell into a lava tube on his holding and buy the farm , ” HPD Major Robert Wagner recite alocal newspaper . “ ( He ) fall about 20 feet down . ”

As their name paint a picture , lava subway are forge by hot flowing magma moving as a result of volcanic activeness . As lava flows , the   out layer cool faster than the privileged layers and harden , allowing for the inner lava to continue course . When a volcanic eruption ends or the lava is divert elsewhere , theUS Geological Societysays that lava is drained downslope and leave alone “ partially empty conduit beneath the undercoat . ”

It is not immediately hump how the man fell into the lava tube-shaped structure . An expert speak with theWashington Postsaid that he believes there was   already a hole in the ground , but it was   perhaps embrace in giantism , making it difficult to see . Such maw are ubiquitous across the island – many unbeknown to its indweller .

“ You could be fend on one and not even know it , ” Ken Hon , a volcanologist at the University of Hawaii at Hilo , told thepublication .

The identity operator of the man has not been resign as police are waitress for a positivistic identification following notification of next of kin .