A California man, Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, has been rescued by police after being trapped behind a waterfall for two days.
The dramatic rescue was carried out by a California highway patrol helicopter crew, who hoisted Wardwell to safety after he became stranded while rappelling down the Seven Teacups falls.
According to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Wardwell went to the waterfalls on August 10 with plans to rappel down.
However, the “extreme hydraulics” of the waterfalls pushed him off his rappelling lines and trapped him behind a cascade of the Kern River. His failure to return to his car that night prompted local law enforcement to launch a search operation.
The search efforts were initially hampered by difficult terrain and fading daylight, but rescuers found Wardwell the next day after flying a drone behind the cascade.
Wardwell was alive and conscious when rescuers spotted him, and he told them how he had become stranded. The California highway patrol helicopter crew then managed to hoist him to safety, declaring it a “stunning survival story.”
Wardwell received treatment for dehydration and minor injuries and was reunited with his family.
Captain Kevin Kemmerling of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office noted that Wardwell fought to escape for two days but was unable 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.
Mike Crane, a California highway patrol flight officer paramedic, added that Wardwell may not have known if he would ever get out of there.
The Tulare Sheriff’s Office reminded the public to 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 emphasized.
The Seven Teacups are a popular spot for hiking and outdoor adventures, located in a secluded area about two hours south of Sequoia National Park.
Wardwell had rappelled the falls several times before, but on this occasion, his friends opted to stop going further after seeing the rushing water’s power.