A toddler might have plummeted to his demise on Christmas Day at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano if not for his mom’s fast response, officers mentioned.

The Nationwide Park Service mentioned in a press release that the toddler wandered off from his household on the Kilauea Overlook and snuck previous the barrier blocking onlookers from the volcano earlier than operating towards the 400-foot cliff edge.

“His mom, screaming, managed to seize him within the nick of time only a foot or so away from a deadly fall,” the NPS mentioned. “Catastrophe was averted, and the shaken household departed.”

The park service urged guests to remain on path and out of closed areas and to maintain their youngsters shut by, particularly when watching the volcano from viewpoints alongside Crater Rim Path.

“Those that ignore the warnings, stroll previous closure indicators, lose monitor of family members, and sneak into closed areas to get a better look accomplish that at nice threat,” the NPS mentioned in its information launch.

“The hazards that coincide with an eruption are harmful, and we’ve got security measures in place together with closed areas, boundaries, closure indicators, and site visitors administration,” Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh mentioned. “Your security is our utmost concern, however we depend on everybody to recreate accountability. Nationwide parks showcase nature’s splendor however they aren’t playgrounds.”

Kilauea started erupting once more Monday and is in its second pause, the NPS mentioned, including that it may begin erupting once more at any time and poisonous fuel emissions are nonetheless excessive.

The volcano, in Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park on the Massive Island, has been erupting since 1983 and is likely one of the most lively volcanoes on the earth. Lava spouted greater than 200 ft when it started erupting Monday.

Earlier than this month, its most up-to-date eruptions had been in June and September, mentioned Ken Hon, head scientist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Dozens of houses had been destroyed after an eruption in 2018 that pressured hundreds to flee.

Rebecca Cohen

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking information reporter for NBC Information Digital.