By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Fire/rescue units responded to a 10:26 p.m. alarm Sunday (Jan 13) to Ka Lae (South Point) for a fisherman who fell into the ocean.

Witnesses reported that the 67 year-old man fell about 20 feet into the ocean while fishing and was last seen about 50 yards off-shore. They lost sight of the fisherman due to darkness.

County fire/rescue crews conducted a water and land search with the assistance of a Coast Guard C-130 plane and Dolphin helicopter searching up to six miles from shore. A Hawaii National Guard Blackhawk helicopter performed an aerial ocean search up to three miles out. Searchers were not able to find the man. The area is popular for fishing but has high cliffs and strong currents.

The search was scheduled to resume today with the fire department’s Chopper 1 helicopter.

UPDATED (1/14/2013 at 5:45 p.m.)

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter along with Hawaii County fire department’s Chopper One continued the search for a missing fisherman off South Point Monday (Jan 14).

Ground, ocean and air crews searched for the missing man up to five miles out from shore without results. A Coast Guard cutter along with Chopper One will continue the search at daybreak on Tuesday (Jan 15).