A hiker from California, Ian Snyder, found himself in a life-or-death situation after falling approximately 1,000 feet down the Ko"olau Summit Trail near the Pali Notches Trail in Hawaii. Snyder, 34, was hiking alone on December 4 when the treacherous terrain caused him to lose his footing and plummet down the mountain. Miraculously, he survived three days before being discovered and rescued by Honolulu first responders on December 7 near the bottom of a waterfall.

During a news conference held on Tuesday, Snyder expressed his gratitude towards the rescuers who ultimately saved his life. He described the experience as one he never expected, stating, "I never expected a day of hiking like this to go the way it did." Snyder, a father of two sons and a daughter, recounted his memories of the hike, mentioning that the trail's peak was steep and became increasingly challenging as he continued. He recalled looking down at Pali Highway and realizing he had a long way to descend.

However, the details surrounding the fall remain hazy for Snyder. He admitted that after regaining consciousness, he had no recollection of what had transpired or how much time had passed. Snyder's first memory was waking up feeling cold, with a broken arm, near a stream. In order to survive, he dragged himself closer to the stream for hydration and sought shelter from the wind between two rocks. Over the course of the three days, he relied on the stream water to keep himself hydrated.

As time passed, Snyder made peace with his circumstances and focused on his will to survive. "I wanted to live, so I wasn't giving up the will to live," he expressed. Snyder's faith also played a significant role during his ordeal, saying, "I had made my peace with God. I will be OK whether I live or whether I die."

The Honolulu Fire Department became aware of Snyder's situation after receiving a call from the Honolulu Police Department about a missing person. Using geolocation data from Snyder's phone, officials determined that he was likely near the Ko"olau Summit Trail. Honolulu fire captain Adrian Carvalho emphasized the significance of obtaining this information, stating, "To get that information was very critical."

On the day of his rescue, Snyder woke up to the sound of aircraft flying low nearby. Realizing they were likely searching for him, he began waving his hands to catch their attention. Rescue personnel spotted him near the bottom of a waterfall and airlifted him to safety. Alongside his broken arm, rescuers discovered a swollen right eye, chest trauma, and puncture wounds on his legs.

Despite his injuries, Snyder's survival has been described as nothing short of a miracle. His wounds were still evident during the news conference, with a black eye, head cuts, and his broken arm in a sling. Honolulu Fire Department Captain Adrian Cravalho expressed his astonishment, stating, "To be 1,000 feet down from the trail and to have survived - as we've said many times - is a miracle." Volunteer searcher Amber Fonte echoed this sentiment, admitting she initially expected to find a body and was overjoyed to see Snyder alive and waving at the sky.

Reflecting on his experience, Snyder acknowledged that he was not as prepared as he should have been for this hike and should not have ventured alone. He urged others to learn from his mistake, advising against hiking alone in such challenging terrain. Snyder expressed his hope for a speedy recovery, stating, "My hope is in a few weeks, I'll be back to mostly normal.".