A California hiker has spoken of his miraculous survival after falling a thousand feet from a treacherous trail in Oahu, Hawaii.
Ian Snyder, 34, disappeared for three nights after his horrific accident last Monday on the Koolau Summit Trail, one of the islands' most challenging hiking trails.
It was only thanks to an eerie video he posted on social media that rescuers were able to pinpoint his location at the foot of a waterfall.
Snyder was found dehydrated and with multiple broken bones and was immediately flown to a local hospital for medical treatment.
After spending three days in the hospital, Snyder met his rescuers and personally thanked them at a news conference on Tuesday.
Ian Snyder, 34, managed to survive for three days at the bottom of a waterfall after falling 1,000 feet from a treacherous trail in Oahu, Hawaii, breaking several bones
Thanks to his eerie social media post, rescuers were able to locate him with the help of members of a local hiking group
Ian Snyder, 34, disappeared for three nights after falling last Monday on the Koolau Summit Trail, one of the islands' most challenging hiking trails
“I couldn't believe when people told me, 'You fell 300 meters down the cliff,' and I asked myself, 'How did I even survive?'” the father of three said Tuesday.
“First and foremost, it's a miracle.” “I'm happy to be here, incredibly happy to be here and happy to be mostly unscathed,” he added.
The hiker and travel blogger said he didn't remember the fall but woke up with a broken arm and had no idea how long he had been there.
He was lucky enough to fall near a waterfall, which helped him stay alive.
“I made sure I had a spot where I could get water with my right hand if needed,” he said. “And from then on I just hunkered down and time passed.”
“I am incredibly grateful to all of you for the work you do every day,” he told firefighters and emergency responders at the conference.
The hiker and travel blogger said he didn't remember the fall but woke up with a broken arm and had no idea how long he had been there
After spending three days in the hospital, Snyder met his rescuers and personally thanked them during Tuesday's press conference
“I couldn't believe when people told me, 'You fell 300 meters down the cliff,' and I asked myself, 'How did I even survive?'” he said Tuesday
Snyder is a travel blogger who has three internationally adopted children. He wrote flights and reviews for a travel publication and regularly posted about his travels on X, formerly Twitter.
It was his last eerie social media post before he disappeared for three days and ultimately helped save his life.
In the post, he wrote: “current situation,” along with a video showing a view of a valley and Koolau Peak shrouded in clouds.
After reporting the missing person to the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), the family sought help from members of the Oahu Hiking Community group on Facebook.
“We were just so grateful for that contribution.” That was our starting point because I had no idea he was in Hawaii. “He doesn’t always tell me about his travels,” his sister Sara Borgeson told KITV.
After police determined the hiker's last known location, rescue teams conducted an aerial search.
Snyder is a travel blogger who has three internationally adopted children
He wrote flights and reviews for travel publications and regularly posted about his travels on X, formerly Twitter
He posted photos and videos showing views of a valley and Koolau Peak shrouded in clouds before he went missing for three days
Snyder was found 1,000 feet below the Pali Notches Trail and placed on life support before being taken to a hospital.
As he recovered in the hospital, he was in a lot of pain — “much more pain than even when he was out for those three days,” Borgeson said in an interview with KITV.
He suffered a “broken cheekbone, a broken bone in his finger or hand and many scratches,” she explained.
“He was truly surrounded by angels during those three days,” Borgeson wrote after the rescue, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
“We are so grateful for the local community there on Oahu and for the countless people who have been praying for him. “Thank you!” she added.
Snyder said at the press conference, “I have made my peace with God.” I said, “I know you.” I know that Christ is Lord and my Savior. “I will be fine whether I live or die.”
He learned a valuable lesson from this horrific experience – namely, to avoid hiking alone in Hawaii, but also mentioned that he plans to continue exploring hiking trails.
“I don’t know how God will use this in my life, but I hope it will be useful in the long run,” he said.
After police, with the help of the hiking community, determined the hiker's last known location, rescue teams conducted an aerial search
Snyder was found 1,000 feet below the Pali Notches Trail and placed on life support before being taken to a hospital
Snyder reunited with his family at a hospital after recovering
Amber Fonte of the Oahu Hiking Community said, “I thought the best gift we could give the family was that we had found a body.”
“When we found a whole person, living, breathing and waving at the sky. It was like a Merry Christmas.'