A primary-time backpacker was discovered bloodied, moist, shaking — and probably slashed — on the bottom of a California mountain climbing path, however has no recollection of how he ended up within the dire state of affairs.
Sashank Upadhyayula, 34, was found specified by the tall grass on the fringe of the Misplaced Coast Path final Tuesday by a gaggle of six teenage campers and their counselors, the Misplaced Coast Outpost reported.
He was coated in blood, shivering violently and laying in soaked blue denims when the teenage boys noticed him at round 9 a.m. final Monday.
The kids’ grownup counselors with Misplaced Coast Camp instantly started tending to Upadhyayula and issued a misery alert through satellite tv for pc cellphone to get medical assist.
The advisors — Solomon Reinman, 26, and Jack Davis, 28, who’re each wilderness first-aid licensed — minimize open his jacket and bandaged his wounds, and wrapped him in a sleeping bag and tarp, the outlet reported.
Then the teenagers — who had gotten a crash course in wilderness first help the day earlier than — arrange a tenting range and heated up water to replenish bottles. They positioned the new water bottles subsequent to Upadhyayula to get his physique temperature up on the instruction of the camp program director Maria Vollmar, who ran over after receiving the emergency alert.
“The campers have been all simply actually, actually useful and regular and sort,” Vollmar advised the native publication. “Sol and Jack simply actually did a tremendous job serving to this man.”
Upadhyayula’s rescuers mentioned he was largely incoherent after they acquired to him. He advised them it was his first time backpacking and he went out alone.
He additionally advised them he thought he had been attacked however couldn’t bear in mind what occurred.
A helicopter arrived about 90 minutes after the decision for assist was despatched out and Upadhyayula was transferred to an area hospital, the place he was handled for hypothermia and his wounds.
Paul Sever, an worker of the Bureau of Land Administration, mentioned what precisely occurred to the solo backpacker is “a little bit of a thriller” when requested by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Practically every week later, he advised the Misplaced Coast Outpost he’s nonetheless unsure what occurred — however believes he was attacked.
The night time earlier than the campers discovered him, Upadhyayula mentioned he thought heard one thing or somebody at round 10 p.m.
“I bear in mind listening to one thing, being scared and eradicating my bear spray, my two knives, water reservoir and my electronics,” he advised the publication.
The subsequent factor he remembers was waking up within the surf under the coastal path.
“[I] made my option to the path and collapsed after getting my mylar blanket. I coated my torso with the blanket and assumed fetal place to retain warmth,” he mentioned.
Upadhyayula had cuts on his arms, torso and throat.
“The docs consider that it was a knife [or] bladed weapon,” Upadhyayula mentioned. “With my lack of reminiscence and since my knives are lacking and the way I used to be separated from my pack and located fairly a distance away … all of it factors in the direction of me being attacked.”
He reported the attainable assault to each the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Workplace and to the Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) King Vary Nationwide Conservation Space Workplace, in keeping with the Outpost.
The sheriff’s workplace advised the publication it’s investigating however has discovered no proof up to now to recommend there’s a risk to the general public.
“The HCSO is constant to research this incident however there’s presently no data to recommend there’s any present/on-going risk to security of the general public alongside the Misplaced Coast Path,” the workplace mentioned in an announcement.
Upadhyayula warned different hikers to pay attention to their environment and thanked his rescuers.
“Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. I can not specific my gratitude, you’re doing God’s work,” he mentioned. “I hope you obtain your goals.”
The 24-mile Misplaced Coast Path could be harmful on account of its proximity to the highly effective Pacific Ocean.
In 2022, one hiker died and one other was rescued after they have been swept from the path into the water amid 20-foot swells.
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