Cameraman Rescued From Crater in Real Cliff-Hanger

As a movie cameraman, Michael A. Benson of Woodland Hills has seen harum-scarum disasters and hairs’ breadth escapes--at least the Hollywood versions--but this time he was the star in The Great Flight from the Gas-Filled Volcano.

Benson, who worked on “Terminator 2” and “Ghost,” among other films, was in fair condition Tuesday after crawling into a net lowered from a helicopter that plucked him from a Hawaiian volcano crater where he had been trapped for two days. He suffered lung problems from inhaling sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gas but said in a telephone interview from his hospital room in Hilo, Hawaii, that “I’m feeling pretty good.”

Cameraman Chris Duddy and helicopter pilot Craig Hosking, both from Los Angeles, who reached safety earlier, had also been treated for lung and eye irritation.

The three men flew into the Pu’u ‘O’o crater of the Kilauea volcano on Saturday to film a segment for the Paramount Pictures Corp. production, “Sliver.” The helicopter lost power and crash-landed on the crater floor about 150 feet below the rim. About 275 feet below the rim is an active pond of lava, molten rock, according to the National Park Service.

Hosking was rescued by helicopter from the crash site a few hours after the film helicopter went down, and on Sunday Duddy crawled out. But Benson, 42, remained stuck on a ledge about 60 feet below the rim. On Monday, a break in the weather allowed rescuers to fly a helicopter level with the lip of the crater and lower a rope with a net attached for Benson--who was out of the crew’s sight.

“It was a very dangerous and difficult maneuver,” said park ranger Donna Cuttone. We’ve all been absolutely amazed they all came out as good as they did.”