Latest news with #RyanWardwell
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Video: US Man Trapped Behind Waterfall For 2 Days Rescued Using Helicopter
In what the authorities have described as a "stunning survival story", a US man who was trapped behind a waterfall for two days was finally rescued using a helicopter last week. California resident Ryan Wardwell, 46, was rappelling down the cliffside at Kern River on August 10 when he fell into an open space behind the waterfall, the sheriff's office of Tulare County (TCSO) informed in a social media post. While Mr Wardwell embarked upon the hike with a group of friends, they all left before attempting the rappelling due to the waterfall's strong downpour. Though the friends retreated, they posted a message on Mr Wardwell's car, telling passers-by to report him missing if his car was still on the property by August 11. After Mr Wardwell did not return to his car, a missing person complaint was filed, and an investigation was launched, with his last whereabouts being the top of the "Seven Teacups" waterfalls. An aircraft equipped with a camera and infrared technology was pushed into action to pinpoint Mr Wardwell's location. However, the fading sunlight forced responders to retreat and pick up searching for him on August 12. Watch the viral video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tulare County Sheriff (@tularecountysheriff) Also Read | Brazilian Woman Married To Indian Man Shares Her Love Story: 'When You Know' After rescue teams started the search operation, a drone was used to check behind the large waterfall where Mr Wardwell was found alive and responsive. A helicopter was then used to delicately hoist Mr Wardwell up and retrieve him from behind the waterfall. "California Highway Patrol (CHP) Helicopter H-40 was called to help with the rescue operation. Once H-40 was on scene, a member of the TCSO rescue team was lowered down into the water feature, it secured Wardwell and a hoist extraction was conducted," TCSO said in a statement. After the rescue, Mr Wardwell was taken to the nearby landing zone and evaluated by the medical personnel. He was treated for minor injuries, dehydration, and soon reunited with family members. Mr Wardwell said he was surprised by the fall, having previously scaled the falls several times. As per Tulare County Sheriff's Office Captain Kevin Kemmerling, Mr Wardwell attempted to escape the waterfall, but "there was nothing he could do to break through".
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Police rescue man trapped behind waterfall in California
Ryan Wardwell, 46, was abseiling down one of the Seven Teacups waterfalls in California when he became trapped behind a cascade. Trapped for two days, Wardell was dramatically rescued by police using a helicopter and treated for dehydration and minor injuries. The Tulare sheriff's office described the ordeal as a 'stunning survival story'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
‘Stunning survival story': Police rescue California man trapped behind waterfall for two days
A California man who recently became trapped behind a waterfall for two days while climbing was dramatically rescued by police utilizing a helicopter. Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, went to waterfalls known as the Seven Teacups on 10 August with plans to rappel down, the sheriff's office of Tulare country said in a social media post. But the 'extreme hydraulics' of the waterfalls pushed Wardwell off his rappelling lines and trapped him behind a cascade of the Kern river, according to the sheriff's office. His failure to return to his car that night prompted local law enforcement to spend 11 August searching for him with infrared technology and aircraft. Difficult terrain and fading daylight thwarted their efforts that day. But rescuers found Wardwell the next day after flying a drone behind the cascade in question. Wardwell was alive and conscious when rescuers spotted him, and he told them how he had become stranded there, the Tulare county sheriff's office said. A California highway patrol helicopter crew then managed to hoist him to safety to cap off what the sheriff's office declared a 'stunning survival story'. Wardwell received treatment for dehydration and 'only minor injuries', and he was reunited with family who had gone to the scene, the sheriff's office said. The agency published video of Wardwell's rescue on Facebook, where it captured attention from news media outlets that reported on the situation. The clip showed the helicopter whipping around foliage and water around the cascade before the crew lifted Wardwell onboard. An attraction for hiking and outdoors adventure enthusiasts, the Seven Teacups are in a secluded area about two hours south of the Sequoia national park, which itself is east of Visalia, California. Wardwell had rappelled the falls several times before, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. On his 10 August trip there, friends had accompanied him, though they opted to stop going further after seeing the rushing water's power, California highway patrol flight officer paramedic Mike Crane said to the Chronicle. According to the outlet, Wardwell's friends left a note on his car telling passersby to report him missing if the vehicle was still there the next day, which it was. Wardwell ended up nestling himself in a dark cave beneath the waterfall – completely soaked – after being thrusted off his rappel lines, the Chronicle added. Tulare county sheriff's office captain Kevin Kemmerling told the Chronicle that Wardwell fought to escape for two days, 'but there was nothing he could do to break through'. 'There was no way for him to warm up or dry out in there, so it had to have been miserable,' Kemmerling said to the newspaper. Crane, speaking to the Chronicle, added: 'I got the impression that maybe he didn't know if he was ever going to get out of there.' The Tulare sheriff's office said in its statement that it reminded members of the public 'to always be aware of their environment and capabilities, especially when navigating white water rivers' like the one at the Seven Teacups. 'Stay safe, stay smart and stay alive,' the statement from the sheriff's office said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Stunning survival story': Police rescue California man trapped behind waterfall for two days
A California man who recently became trapped behind a waterfall for two days while climbing was dramatically rescued by police utilizing a helicopter. Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, went to waterfalls known as the Seven Teacups on 10 August with plans to rappel down, the sheriff's office of Tulare country said in a social media post. But the 'extreme hydraulics' of the waterfalls pushed Wardwell off his rappelling lines and trapped him behind a cascade of the Kern river, according to the sheriff's office. Related: One dead and two missing after six people swept down waterfall in Oregon His failure to return to his car that night prompted local law enforcement to spend 11 August searching for him with infrared technology and aircraft. Difficult terrain and fading daylight thwarted their efforts that day. But rescuers found Wardwell the next day after flying a drone behind the cascade in question. Wardwell was alive and conscious when rescuers spotted him, and he told them how he had become stranded there, the Tulare county sheriff's office said. A California highway patrol helicopter crew then managed to hoist him to safety to cap off what the sheriff's office declared a 'stunning survival story'. Wardwell received treatment for dehydration and 'only minor injuries', and he was reunited with family who had gone to the scene, the sheriff's office said. The agency published video of Wardwell's rescue on Facebook, where it captured attention from news media outlets that reported on the situation. The clip showed the helicopter whipping around foliage and water around the cascade before the crew lifted Wardwell onboard. An attraction for hiking and outdoors adventure enthusiasts, the Seven Teacups are in a secluded area about two hours south of the Sequoia national park, which itself is east of Visalia, California. Wardwell had rappelled the falls several times before, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. On his 10 August trip there, friends had accompanied him, though they opted to stop going further after seeing the rushing water's power, California highway patrol flight officer paramedic Mike Crane said to the Chronicle. According to the outlet, Wardwell's friends left a note on his car telling passersby to report him missing if the vehicle was still there the next day, which it was. Wardwell ended up nestling himself in a dark cave beneath the waterfall – completely soaked – after being thrusted off his rappel lines, the Chronicle added. Tulare county sheriff's office captain Kevin Kemmerling told the Chronicle that Wardwell fought to escape for two days, 'but there was nothing he could do to break through'. 'There was no way for him to warm up or dry out in there, so it had to have been miserable,' Kemmerling said to the newspaper. Crane, speaking to the Chronicle, added: 'I got the impression that maybe he didn't know if he was ever going to get out of there.' The Tulare sheriff's office said in its statement that it reminded members of the public 'to always be aware of their environment and capabilities, especially when navigating white water rivers' like the one at the Seven Teacups. 'Stay safe, stay smart and stay alive,' the statement from the sheriff's office said. Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
‘Stunning survival story': Police rescue California man trapped behind waterfall for two days
A California man who recently became trapped behind a waterfall for two days while climbing was dramatically rescued by police utilizing a helicopter. Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, went to waterfalls known as the Seven Teacups on 10 August with plans to rappel down, the sheriff's office of Tulare country said in a social media post. But the 'extreme hydraulics' of the waterfalls pushed Wardwell off his rappelling lines and trapped him behind a cascade of the Kern river, according to the sheriff's office. His failure to return to his car that night prompted local law enforcement to spend 11 August searching for him with infrared technology and aircraft. Difficult terrain and fading daylight thwarted their efforts that day. But rescuers found Wardwell the next day after flying a drone behind the cascade in question. Wardwell was alive and conscious when rescuers spotted him, and he told them how he had become stranded there, the Tulare county sheriff's office said. A California highway patrol helicopter crew then managed to hoist him to safety to cap off what the sheriff's office declared a 'stunning survival story'. Wardwell received treatment for dehydration and 'only minor injuries', and he was reunited with family who had gone to the scene, the sheriff's office said. The agency published video of Wardwell's rescue on Facebook, where it captured attention from news media outlets that reported on the situation. The clip showed the helicopter whipping around foliage and water around the cascade before the crew lifted Wardwell onboard. An attraction for hiking and outdoors adventure enthusiasts, the Seven Teacups are in a secluded area about two hours south of the Sequoia national park, which itself is east of Visalia, California. Wardwell had rappelled the falls several times before, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. On his 10 August trip there, friends had accompanied him, though they opted to stop going further after seeing the rushing water's power, California highway patrol flight officer paramedic Mike Crane said to the Chronicle. According to the outlet, Wardwell's friends left a note on his car telling passersby to report him missing if the vehicle was still there the next day, which it was. Wardwell ended up nestling himself in a dark cave beneath the waterfall – completely soaked – after being thrusted off his rappel lines, the Chronicle added. Tulare county sheriff's office captain Kevin Kemmerling told the Chronicle that Wardwell fought to escape for two days, 'but there was nothing he could do to break through'. 'There was no way for him to warm up or dry out in there, so it had to have been miserable,' Kemmerling said to the newspaper. Crane, speaking to the Chronicle, added: 'I got the impression that maybe he didn't know if he was ever going to get out of there.' The Tulare sheriff's office said in its statement that it reminded members of the public 'to always be aware of their environment and capabilities, especially when navigating white water rivers' like the one at the Seven Teacups. 'Stay safe, stay smart and stay alive,' the statement from the sheriff's office said.
