Kauai fire rescue personnel airlifted a Waipahu man with a possible broken ankle from the Na Pali Coast wilderness area Thursday morning, Kauai County reported.

The 33-year-old man had been hiking with friends when he reportedly broke his right ankle while hiking near Hanakapiai Falls Wednesday afternoon.

He called for help at 6:19 p.m.Wednesday and spent the night in the valley. Rescue personnel aboard the fire department helicopter had only enough time to lower a rescue specialist into the valley before nightfall forced the aircraft to return to Lihue Airport. 

The rescuer hiked into the area and stayed with the hiker overnight. The helicopter returned at daybreak Thursday to pick up both men. It flew to Princeville Airport ,where medics took him to Wilcox Hospital.