Report: Hiker fell 1,000 feet on Oahu trail…

“It’s nothing short of a miracle”: Hiker who fell 1,000 feet on Oahu trail and was missing for days expresses gratitude to his rescuers.

“I never imagined a hike would take such a turn,” said 34-year-old Ian Snyder during a press conference on Tuesday, where he thanked those who saved him.

They’re calling him the “miracle man” after he survived a 1,000-foot fall from the Koolau Summit Trail and endured three days at the base of a waterfall. Snyder, a visitor from California, has fully embraced this description.

“It’s truly a miracle. I’m incredibly thankful to be here and in mostly one piece. My gratitude goes out to each of you for the work you do every day,” Snyder said.

Snyder had been hiking alone last Monday when he fell and was out of contact for days. His family rallied the Oahu hiking community to search for him, using videos he had posted to social media to narrow down his location. Three days later, Snyder was found and airlifted to safety, suffering from dehydration, bruises, and broken bones, but otherwise okay.

Snyder was near a waterfall, which provided a small stream that helped sustain him. On Tuesday, his parents also thanked the firefighters, EMS personnel, and good Samaritans who had rescued him. “Thank you so much for saving my son,” said his father, John Snyder.

The rescuers, who feared the worst after hearing what had happened, were amazed when Snyder waved to get their attention. “We still can’t fully explain how he survived,” said Honolulu Fire Captain Adrian Gravalho.

Snyder, reflecting on his ordeal, mentioned that he learned valuable lessons from the experience, including not hiking alone in Hawaii. He admitted that using Google to map out his trail was a mistake and that a split-second decision led him onto a more dangerous path.

Honolulu EMS paramedic Allen Zhang said they had prepared for the worst when called to the scene. “Falling 1,000 feet is no joke,” he remarked. But they were relieved to find Snyder with injuries that were serious but survivable.

Hikers who had joined the search were eager to meet the man they had been tracking through social media. Amber Fonte of the Oahu Hiking Community said, “We thought the best gift we could give the family was to find a body. When we found a living, breathing person waving at the sky, it felt like a Christmas miracle.”