The holiday season almost ended in tragedy for one family after a toddler nearly fell off a 400-foot cliff in Hawaii near the island's erupting Kilauea volcano.

A toddler could have plummeted to his death on Christmas Day at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano if not for his mother's quick reaction, officials said.

A toddler wandered nearly a foot toward death at a volcano park in Hawaii when his mother caught hold of him in time to save his life, according to the National Park Service.

One of the world’s most active volcanoes erupted on Monday after a three-month hiatus, spewing bright orange lava as high as 300 feet, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Kilauea began erupting around 2:30 a.m. Monday morning local time at the base of the Halemaumau Crater within the summit caldera after elevated seismic activity was detected overnight.

Those who ignore the warnings, walk past closure signs, lose track of loved ones, and sneak into closed areas to get a closer look do so at great risk,” officials said.

The National Park Service has warned people to be more careful when visiting the erupting Kīlauea volcano after a recent close call involving a family visiting the park.

One family’s Christmas holiday at a Hawaii national park almost ended in tragedy after a toddler nearly fell into a smouldering crater. The US National Park Service has issued an urgent warning to tourists after a child nearly fell into the active crater of the Kilauea volcano before he was rescued ‘in the nick of time.