Hiker Who Fell 1,000 Ft on Trail and Went Missing for Days Breaks Silence: 'How Did I Even Survive?'

Ian Snyder was hiking a trail in Hawaii last week when he slipped and lost his footing, according to reports

A man who says he fell 1,000 feet off a trail in Hawaii is thanking rescuers and sharing how he survived the ordeal for three days, injured and alone at the base of a waterfall.

Ian Snyder, 34, was hiking the Koolau Summit Trail near the Pali Notches Trail in Oahu last week when he slipped and lost his footing, according to ABC affiliate KITV and Hawaii News Now.

"I couldn't believe when people were telling me, 'You fell 1,000 feet down the cliff,' and I'm like how did I even survive?" Snyder said at a press conference on Tuesday, per Hawaii News Now.

The avid outdoorsman from Ferndale, California, said that he has no memory of falling off the mountain, but when he regained consciousness, Snyder found himself near a waterfall, which aided in his survival for the next few days.

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"I made sure I had a spot where I could get the water as a needed with my right hand," he said. "And I kind of just hunkered down from there, and time passed."

Meanwhile, Snyder’s family members alerted authorities after they realized they hadn’t heard from him and realized his last communication was a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) in which he shared a video from his hike on Dec. 4.

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“Current situation,” the father of three captioned the post, which showed low clouds framing a lush mountainside.

According to the Honolulu Fire Department, authorities were able to pinpoint Snyder’s location, and he was airlifted from the scene last Thursday.

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At Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, Snyder said he was treated for numerous injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and arm, per KITV.

As he reunited with the first responders who helped save him, Snyder said he relied on his faith.

“I’m glad to be here, incredibly glad to be here and glad to be in mostly one piece,” Snyder said. “I’m incredibly grateful to all of you for the job you do each and every day.”

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Honolulu EMS paramedic Allen Zhang said at the press conference that rescuers were “expecting the worst-case scenario” when they found Snyder.

“Falling 1,000 feet from a trail is no joke,” he said.

The Honolulu Fire Department added in a statement: “It is truly a miracle that Ian is still with us today, and soon, on his way home to California to celebrate the holiday season.”

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