Pod Insights Real Survival Stories Flash Flood on Family Hike: Father’s Nightmare About this episode In 2014, the Greenbergs are enjoying a restorative family holiday on Kauai - a wild and stunning Hawaiian island used as a location for the Jurassic Park films. And it’s here that the Greenbergs suddenly find themselves in a terrifying ordeal worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. On a leisurely hike, a flash flood throws the family into turmoil. Father Rich will find himself battling the most brutal of conditions, with the lives of his children in peril…
A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.
For more on this story read Rich's book Surviving a Miracle.
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Transcript Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
0:00 Speaker 00 My name is Taylor. The economy is crushing moms like me right now.
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0:50 John Hopkins? It's April 6, 2014, 11:15 a.m. Deep in the lush green forests of Kauai in Hawaii, a storm is raging. Rain torrents down as an unstoppable wind howls through the thick canopy of trees. Rivers and creeks crash through the undergrowth, their banks threatening to burst. Conditions like these are treacherous. No one wants to be caught out in them. But that's exactly where the Greenberg family now find themselves, navigating a fast-flowing river on the Kalalau Trail.
1:31 John Hopkins? Forty-two-year-old Rich Greenberg leads his three children across the water. With baby Marla on his back, he clutches onto his nine-year-old daughter Samantha and instructs her to take her big brother Zack's hand for extra stability. Their knuckles wiped from the cold, they grip onto each other with everything they've got, sloshing through the rising, raging water and clambering over slick rocks. In a line, taking careful steps, they're making good progress. Rich calls out instructions to his kids, trying to keep them calm. As they finally near the riverbank, 12-year-old Zack places an unsteady foot between two semi-submerged boulders, and then the unthinkable happens.
2:21 Speaker 04 Right between that gap, the undertow that's blowing right between the boulders catches my foot and drives me into the river down below.
2:31 John Hopkins? Without hesitation, Rich lets go of Samantha and reaches out to grab his fallen son. But the rapids are too unpredictable, twisting and turning Zach one way and the other. Fumbling and flailing, Rich can't get a firm grip, and Zach slips away.
2:52 John Hopkins? Almost fully submerged in the river himself, Rich is helpless against the current. As baby Malas' screams of terror fill his ears and water fills his lungs, he watches as his son gets dragged downstream, away from the relative safety of land and towards who knows what.
3:11 John Hopkins? All three of Rich's children are in mortal danger. It's beyond the worst nightmares of any parent.
3:19 Speaker 04 I called to God and I said, "God, I don't want to die. I don't want my children to die. Help us." And I decided I was going to fight with everything I had.
3:37 John Hopkins? Ever wondered what you would do when disaster strikes? If your life depended on your next decision, could you make the right choice? Welcome to Real Survival Stories. These are the astonishing tales of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations, people suddenly forced to fight for their lives.
4:00 John Hopkins? In this episode, we meet Rich and Zach Greenberg, a father and son from Salt Lake City. In 2014, while enjoying a restorative family holiday in Hawaii, the Greenbergs embark on a hike to the breathtaking Hannah Capii Falls.
4:18 John Hopkins? But seconds after reaching their destination, a flash flood turns their pleasant hike into a battle against the most terrifying forces of nature, tearing the family apart and leaving one of them in a hopeless situation.
4:32 Speaker 04 There was no fighting, almost like a big monster grabbed my foot and just yanked and can't really hold on. I definitely shouldn't be alive.
4:41 John Hopkins? While Zach holds on for dear life, unexpected heroes will come to the fore, and Rich will have to dig deep to keep any hopes of a family reunion alive.
4:52 Speaker 05 Even though I recognize that we all may die, I was far from willing to give up that fight, especially for my children, because there's nothing more important to me in my life than my children.
5:04 John Hopkins? I'm John Hopkins. From the Noiser Network, this is Real Survival Stories.
5:35 John Hopkins? It's April 5, 2014, on Kauai, the oldest and northernmost island of Hawaii. It's a gorgeous, green and brown haven in a vast blue sea.
5:47 John Hopkins? Used as a filming location for the Jurassic Park movies, much of the island is defined by its dramatic, untouched natural splendor. Verdant valleys and tropical rainforests are divided by forking rivers and elegant waterfalls. Flocks of colorful birds dart between trees, and dolphins and whales swim in its surrounding waters. Here, life certainly did find a way.
6:16 John Hopkins? On one of Kauai's golden sandy beaches, surrounded by palm trees and coastal flowers, the Greenberg family are enjoying a relaxing afternoon.
6:26 John Hopkins? Siblings Samantha and Zach splash happily in the shallow azure waves as their parents, Carrie and Rich, watch on with little Marla.
6:37 John Hopkins? It's a welcome break. Rich juggles fatherhood with a full-on career as a doctor.
6:43 Speaker 05 Life was busy. Zach was 12, Samantha was nine, Marla was three. So, life was busy and we really felt like we needed some time to get away and just have family time because it didn't seem like we had enough of it. So, we had planned this vacation to go to Hawaii and really make amazing memories.
7:03 John Hopkins? Each Greenberg has a part of the trip they're most looking forward to. For Carrie, it's simple moments like this, relaxing on the sun-soaked beach with her young family. Samantha can't wait to go horseback riding while Zach is desperate to fly in a helicopter.
7:20 John Hopkins? For Rich, who visited Kauai as a child, he's excited to take the whole family on a hike to the beautiful, island-famous Hannah Capii Falls.
7:30 Speaker 05 I'd done it with my dad as a teenager and it was truly one of the most beautiful places in the world that I'd ever seen. The hike along the coast is, to me, the most picturesque place in the world. And then you hike to this waterfall and it is just absolutely serene and gorgeous. And I very much wanted to share that beautiful spot of God's creation with my family.
8:01 John Hopkins? Growing up in the mountains and canyons of Utah's Salt Lake City, the Greenbergs are an outdoorsy bunch. They've all hiked before. Even baby Marla, who, despite medical conditions slowing her development, is starting to learn to walk.
8:16 John Hopkins? Regardless of their experience, though, and Rich's knowledge of the trail, the trek to the falls will be challenging. It's an eight-mile round trip through the beaches and forests of Kauai. In places, the terrain is rocky and steep and sheer cliff faces border many of the paths.
8:35 John Hopkins? That's why Rich and Carrie have spent the past year diligently planning the journey.
8:41 Speaker 04 My dad, like, he is very safety conscious and wants to make sure we as a family are safe. So he checks the weather beforehand, makes sure there's no flash flood warnings. As he's heard that this area can have flash floods occasionally. He makes sure it's not even gonna rain. There's no forecast for any rain. It was a beautiful day, clear sky.
9:04 John Hopkins? The next morning, the Greenbergs are up bright and early. Forecast checked, route mapped, and lunches packed. They leave their condo at 6:45 a.m. And reach the trailhead at Kaia Beach half an hour later.
9:18 John Hopkins? There, they meet up with family friend Uncle Steve. Like Rich, Steve is a medical professional and the ideal companion for this trip. An extra pair of hands to help out with the kids, to keep them entertained and to keep an eye on them. Toddler Marla requires particular care.
9:36 Speaker 04 Our youngest Marla is about one of the most special individuals that I know. She has significant special medical needs. She came to our home as a foster child at age nineteen months. And had a lot of developmental delays and a lot of medical problems. And has really had to fight for many things in life that most of us take for granted.
9:58 John Hopkins? Marla's condition requires her to be fed through a feeding tube. And though she's able to walk, an eight-mile hike is obviously off the cards.
10:07 John Hopkins? Instead, they've brought a baby carrier, and Marla is fitted snugly onto Rich's back.
10:13 John Hopkins? By 7:30 a.m., they're ready to begin what promises to be the hike of a lifetime.
10:19 John Hopkins? The Kalalau Trail begins at the northernmost point of the island. The route the Greenbergs have planned winds through the hills of Kawai for four miles. Sometimes through dense vegetation, other times along narrow shoreline paths. Until it reaches the Hannahcapii Falls. There, they hope to swim in its waters and picnic on the lush grass before heading back.
10:44 John Hopkins? With easy terrain underfoot, the morning sun warming their backs, and clear blue skies stretching for miles ahead, the setting couldn't be better. The family starts to climb into the upper reaches of the isle.
10:59 Speaker 04 The first two miles is rather uphill, kind of rocky, dirt path. Not too strenuous, but definitely a fair amount uphill. And within about a quarter to a half mile, all of a sudden you get to see down the coast and you see those sheer rock cliffs and the beautiful greenery, and it's absolutely spectacular.
11:22 John Hopkins? With Marla on his back, Rich leads the way through the beautiful scenery, Zach and Samantha alongside him. They pause every mile or so to wait for Carrie and Steve, who are going at a more leisurely pace.
11:36 John Hopkins? After two miles, they reach the Hama Capi Ice Stream. It's the first of four river crossings they'll have to navigate. This one is fairly straightforward. Zach hops across the boulders and encourages the others to do the same.
11:55 John Hopkins? The eldest Greenberg child is full of energy and curiosity.
11:59 Speaker 04 He is one of the smartest individuals that I've ever met. He's an amazing young man. He's got a tender heart and he's so bright.
12:09 John Hopkins? By 9:00 a.m., they arrive at a beach, where they pause to catch their breath and enjoy some well-deserved snacks.
12:18 John Hopkins? As they eat, Zach's attention is grabbed by a small wooden sign. He pointed out to his sister. It reads, "Danger: Flash flood. Be alert, water may rise without warning. Fast-moving water in this stream has killed people." Zach stares at the shallow nearby stream in disbelief. Surely, they don't mean that this has killed anyone.
12:43 Speaker 04 At this time, I commented to my sister, like, "They're probably just trying to scare us to make us not want to do this hike just so we go back and don't see the beautiful waterfalls." Like, there's no way a stream like this could take anyone away.
12:55 John Hopkins? But looks can be deceiving. Streams just like this one can become deadly.
13:04 John Hopkins? A flash flood occurs when rain falls so fast that the ground saturates and cannot drain the water away with the required speed. Roads and paths turn into rivers in an instant. Cars, trees, houses, and people can be swept away.
13:22 John Hopkins? As global temperatures and sea levels rise, throwing weather patterns into disarray, tropical regions like Hawaii are becoming more prone to flash flooding. In 2014, when the Greenberg's visit, the amount of annual flood days in Hawaii has risen from four to around 20.
13:42 John Hopkins? Having done his research, Rich is aware of the dangers of hiking in Kauai's hills. However, with the weather calm and the scene picturesque, he, like his son, thinks little of the ominous sign.
13:55 Speaker 05 We weren't unaware that, you know, there could be potential risks, but we felt like we did our due diligence. We checked the weather. We live in Utah, where there are flash floods when you're in canyons. We knew we were hiking up a canyon. We definitely checked the weather forecast previously, and on that day, there were no forecasted storms. It called for a sunny day, and it was absolutely spectacular.
14:25 John Hopkins? The minutes stretch into hours as the Greenberg's continue on their hike. By the time they reach the third river crossing, two local hikers watch Zach and Samantha hop across the boulders like stepping stones.
14:40 John Hopkins? They kindly point out that it might be easier to wade through the shallow water. This way, they won't risk slipping on the rocks.
14:49 John Hopkins? The Greenberg's comply and wind their way up muddy slopes, lush forests to one side, and crashing ocean to the other.
14:58 John Hopkins? There's just one river crossing left before they reach the Hannah Capii Falls, where after over three hours of hiking, they'll be able to take off their packs, swim in the clear waters, and enjoy a picnic.
15:10 Speaker 05 There's just something to me that's magical about that place, and I really wanted my kids to experience it because I had experienced it before, and when I went there the first time, I was in awe. The waterfall is really long and tall, and it hits this shelf and then kind of cascades off this shelf. And people all the time swim under the waterfall and go, and there's a little shelf you can stand behind. And you're just looking out. It's almost like it's surreal. Like, is this pinch me? Is this, could this really be happening? I'm in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
15:46 John Hopkins? When they reach the fourth and final river crossing, they have mere minutes left of the hike. The water in the stream is ankle-deep, and there isn't a current to speak of.
15:58 John Hopkins? Following the advice of the locals, the Greenbergs splash through the shallow trickle and clamber onwards.
16:05 John Hopkins? Zach and Samantha call out to Rich, excitedly saying they can hear the crashing of the waterfall. They must be getting close now. Rich can hear it too, though it's perhaps a little louder than he remembers.
16:20 John Hopkins? As they round a bend, it becomes clear why.
16:25 Speaker 04 We were hiking, and we start to come around this corner. We just feel this wind blowing at us, and with like the water pulsing at us almost like horizontally. We recognize that it's from the waterfall.
16:38 Speaker 05 And at that point, it was like a switch had been flipped, and everything changed. At that point, the wind just all of a sudden picked up, and it was like sheets of water were being blown in your face very strongly. And you kind of had to put your hands in front of your face. And even then, you were being pushed backwards by the wind, and the water that was being blown from the waterfall was very powerful.
17:04 John Hopkins? Their idyllic day has been interrupted by a vicious storm. They're so close to their destination, but it's immediately obvious that it's too dangerous to linger. The wet, wild winds pirouette all around them. Just keeping a steady foothold is suddenly an immense challenge. It's time to get out of here.
17:26 John Hopkins? When Carrie and Steve catch up, Rich quickly turns to his family. It's unsafe here. The gale is turning a peaceful waterfall into an angry torrent which is hammering them with spray.
17:39 Speaker 04 It's not supposed to be like that. So as we recognize that, he says, "Okay, we need to turn around and get back before anything bad happens. We need to get to somewhere safe before we get trapped here."
17:51 John Hopkins? Though they'll be retracing their footsteps, in a storm as unpredictable as this, there's no telling what lies ahead.
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18:34 Speaker 06 For families facing hunger this holiday, your generosity could mean one less difficult choice. Across the Feeding America network, your gift fulfills the promise of connecting neighbors to nourishing food and stability. This Thanksgiving, give at feedingamerica.org/holiday.
18:54 John Hopkins? Determined to get out of the canyon as quickly as they can, the Greenboks scramble back along the trail. The rain is coming down in sheets, and a fierce howl fills their ears.
19:06 John Hopkins? To make matters worse, the trail is now slippery with mud. If they take a wrong step, they risk tumbling over the cliff edge into the turbulent, deep green waters below.
19:19 John Hopkins? At 11:15 a.m., Rich, Zach, Samantha and Marla arrive at the first river crossing. Steve and Carrie lag a few minutes behind.
19:30 John Hopkins? Though they splashed through this stream just half an hour ago, it could have been a different lifetime.
19:37 John Hopkins? The once ankle-deep water is now at waist height and crashes through the undergrowth, dragged by a powerful swirling current.
19:47 John Hopkins? With Marla securely in the pack on his back, Rich grabs Samantha's hand and instructs her to take Zach's. They'll cross the river in a chain, making sure they stick together.
19:59 John Hopkins? At first, their progress is slow. The strong current prevents them from taking more than a few strides a minute. It feels relentless as the water slaps their bodies and their feet hunt for grip on the riverbed. Finally, the bank is in sight. They've almost made it.
20:17 John Hopkins? But then, as Zach places a foot between two large rocks, the Greenbergs are thrown into sudden turmoil.
20:27 Speaker 04 Right between that gap, the undertow that's blowing right between the boulders catches my foot and drags me into the river down below. Almost like a big monster grabbed my foot and just yanked and can't really hold on.
20:43 John Hopkins? Scared of taking his sister Samantha with him, Zach shows bravery and quick thinking beyond his 12 years.
20:49 Speaker 04 I remember letting go of my sister's hand so I didn't drag her down into the river with me. Because I knew that even if I held on, they'd just drag him with me. It was pulling me pretty powerfully.
21:04 John Hopkins? Seeing the action unfold in his peripheral vision, Rich responds at once.
21:09 Speaker 05 Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach slip. And naturally, being a parent and wanting to help, I let go of Samantha's hand and I kind of turned and reached to try and grab him.
21:22 John Hopkins? But he's no match for the force of the flood. He grabs onto Zach, once, twice, but the grip is too weak. Their hands are too slippery from the rain. Rich can only watch in horror as the river crashes over his son's body and drags him away.
21:40 John Hopkins? Zack is tossed back and forth in the water. Each time he forces his head up to the surface to gasp for air, the current sends another wave crashing over him.
21:54 Speaker 04 While I was in the river, like, you just can't control what you're doing. You're just bobbing up and down, gasping for air when you get the chance. But it's almost like you're going in slow motion.
22:06 John Hopkins? The water isn't Zack's only concern. In a flood like this, everything is swept into the river. Trees, branches, rocks, and stones. His body is being battered by the debris.
22:20 John Hopkins? But he cannot resist. He has no choice but to take the blows and to go where the current drags him.
22:29 John Hopkins? A few meters back upstream, Rich, Marla, and Samantha are also in real trouble. Samantha's been able to maintain her balance and grab hold of a boulder, but her dad hasn't been so lucky.
22:41 Speaker 05 Now with my back to the current, Marla and I and Marla within the backpack, we're forcefully shoved. It was like someone went behind me and just shoved me really hard.
22:54 John Hopkins? Rich tries his best to fight the water, determined not to be swept away by the current that's just stolen his son. But his efforts are futile, and the torrent continues its devastating assault. He, too, loses his footing, and he's taken by the river.
23:12 John Hopkins? Rich is pummeled through the water, unable to control his body, a puppet mastered by the elements.
23:20 Speaker 05 I was essentially flat on my back with my head buried underwater, which I knew what that meant for my daughter Marla, who was on my back, that she would be submerged underwater.
23:32 Speaker 05 Initially, when we got thrown into the river, I heard Marla cry, and then I heard her scream, and then shortly thereafter, there was silence. And that was a really hard and terrifying moment as a father, to be helpless to be able to help your child, especially such an angel with special needs. So I, at that point, I had the realization that my two kids and I were likely going to die.
24:02 Speaker 04 But at the same point, I was unwilling to give up. And with everything I had in me, I knew I had to fight for especially the lives of my children.
24:18 John Hopkins? Rich clatters downstream, his arms and legs flailing. He does his best to keep Malah out of the water, trying to turn and twist his body in the swirling froth.
24:30 John Hopkins? Every chance he gets, Rich blinks the water from his eyes and looks around for Zak.
24:36 John Hopkins? When his eyes flick towards the riverbank, he catches sight of a blurred figure.
24:43 Speaker 04 I reached my head as hard as I could up above the water. And on the shore, down, further down the stream, I saw a man. And I thought to myself, you've got to try and call for help and see if there's any way this man can help you. And so with all my force, I tried to not swallow any more water. And I reached my head above the water and I screamed as loud as I could help. And I saw him pan towards me just with this look of sheer panic.
25:12 John Hopkins? Before the passerby has a chance to help, though, Rich is gone. The river traveling with the pace of a runaway train.
25:20 John Hopkins? He looks ahead and sees he's moving straight towards an enormous boulder.
25:26 John Hopkins? It gives him a wild idea. If he can collide with a rock, his progress downstream may be stopped, and he might stand a chance of getting out.
25:35 John Hopkins? Rich allows the current to pull him in its direction. But he's moving too fast, and there isn't enough time to position his body for impact. He is at the river's mercy, and he hares towards the boulder back first, where three-year-old Malah is exposed. They hit the giant rock with a devastating thud.
26:06 John Hopkins? As Rich steadies himself, the shock of the collision still vibrating through his body, he sees the man from the riverbank running to catch up. He happens to be a photographer, and in an immense stroke of luck, he is carrying his nine-foot extendable tripod with him. The man's wife also appears, and the pair thrust the tripod into the water, instructing Rich to grab onto it with all his might. He is heaved out of the river, where he shimmies off his backpack and spins it around to check on Mala.
26:39 John Hopkins? To his utmost relief, she's breathing.
26:44 John Hopkins? As a pediatrician, Rich is able to quickly assess Mala for any obvious injuries. Other than a few cuts and scrapes, she appears fine. But this moment of huge relief is short-lived.
26:59 Speaker 05 At that point, it was very difficult because, while in the river, all I was doing was trying to fight for our lives. And I wasn't thinking deep thoughts by any means, but when we got pulled to shore, the realization that Zack may already be dead or that Zack could die was just so powerful in my mind. And so I was running with everything that I had as fast as I could, calling aloud to God, "Please don't let him die. Please, God, don't let him die."
27:29 John Hopkins? Leaving Mala with the kindly couple, Rich sprints along the trail, his eyes peeled, looking for Zack. But he can't see any sign of him.
27:39 John Hopkins? As it turns out, Zack is still in the water, a few hundred meters away, fighting for his life.
27:47 John Hopkins? Again, passing strangers have spotted him and are trying to help.
27:52 Speaker 04 There were two hikers that were running that saw me, and they were running down alongside me to make sure I was okay. And at the time, I was floating down on my back, bobbing up and down on my back. And they were yelling at me to keep my feet up so that I would be able to kick away any rocks if I got slammed into a rock.
28:12 John Hopkins? Partway downstream, Zack spots a tiny ledge protruding from a rocky outcrop. It offers a chance of sanctuary.
28:22 John Hopkins? Through the barreling waters, Zach summons deep wells of strength and drags himself towards the ledge.
28:29 Speaker 04 Somehow with my left hand, I'm right hand dominant, but was able to grab with my left hand while flowing through this rapid river onto this wet, probably mossy rock, and climb up onto this little ledge in almost a vertical wall. I don't understand how I was able to do that.
28:50 John Hopkins? Dumfounded by his own resilience, Zach collapses onto the precarious rock shelf. He's safe, for now.
29:04 John Hopkins? A few hundred feet away, getting closer by the second, Rich stampedes along the flooded Kalalau Trail. He's lost his shoes in the water, and his bare feet are sliced by jagged rocks and sharp stones. But with adrenaline pumping through his veins, he doesn't feel a thing.
29:22 John Hopkins? When he spots a dozen or so hikers sheltering from the rain on the banks of the river, he calls out to them, begging them for news of his son.
29:31 John Hopkins? They explain that Zach is a little further downstream, on a ledge and out of the water.
29:38 John Hopkins? A wave of relief washes over Rich.
29:41 Speaker 05 I fully admit that when I came out of that river, when I got pulled out of the river and I was running down the trail, that was the worst moment of my life ever, just the realization that one of my kids could be dead or would die. And when I reached that point and I saw him across the river, that was the best moment of my life.
30:01 John Hopkins? The knowledge that Zach is safe fills Rich with a renewed energy. His attention focuses to the rest of his family. He bounds back along the trail to the first river crossing, where he suspects Samantha, Carrie, and Steve must be stranded.
30:18 John Hopkins? He finds them within minutes, sheltering with another group of hikers beneath a canopy of trees, shivering, but safe.
30:27 John Hopkins? Rich shouts the news about Zach to them, using hand signals to get his message through the storm. For now, he insists that they stay where they are.
30:38 John Hopkins? As Rich heads back along the trail once again, he stops only to pick up baby Mala from the couple who rescued them from the water.
30:46 John Hopkins? When he returns to Zack, he is weary from sprinting, and his hopeful vigor dissipates.
30:55 John Hopkins? His 12-year-old is perched on a narrow, slippery ledge, about 40 feet away from the riverbank. How can he possibly reach him?
31:05 John Hopkins? Vicious whitewater laps at Zack's feet, and it's painfully clear their ordeal is far from over.
31:17 John Hopkins? With Rich under obvious stress, the two hikers who had earlier shouted words of advice to Zack again offer their help. They break off tree branches, which they extend into the water, holding them out for Zack.
31:31 John Hopkins? But every branch is too short.
31:34 John Hopkins? Refusing to give up, the two men lower themselves into the water. They tell Rich they'll be on standby to try to catch Zack in case he falls in, because they know something that the Greenbergs haven't realized.
31:49 John Hopkins? 100 feet downstream is a waterfall. If Zack slips into the river again, that sheer drop awaits, and there is no way he'll survive.
31:59 John Hopkins? For his part, Zack tries to remain calm.
32:03 Speaker 04 I was definitely scared, like that's the main feeling that I felt. But the fear didn't worry me. I was able to maintain like almost a calm, cool, composed, and not fidget and not like worrying, be anxious.
32:19 John Hopkins? The overhanging shrubs and branches provide Zack with some shelter from the raging storm, and he has an extra t-shirt in his backpack, which he uses to protect his head. But it's not enough to keep the cold at bay. Hypothermia starts to creep closer.
32:36 John Hopkins? He retrieves a sandwich from his rucksack and eats to restore some of his strength. When he feels the temperature slipping further, he urinates on himself to keep warm.
32:49 John Hopkins? Though Zack may be relatively calm, on the riverbank, the atmosphere is anything but. More hikers, also stranded on the trail, have gathered around Rich. Having spotted Zack's dilemma, they are determined to do anything and everything they can to help.
33:07 Speaker 05 I was in sheer amazement. Here were people who were total strangers, who were willing to risk their safety to help a boy they'd never met, help a man they had never met.
33:19 John Hopkins? Two women, Jessica and Joanna, raced downstream to raise the alarm, while a man named Nina sits with Rich, assuring him he won't leave his side until his son is safe. Others offer blankets, jumpers, food and drink to Rich and Marla. He feeds her through her nasal tube and sings songs to comfort her. He also keeps talking to Zach. It's a masterful example of parental multitasking.
33:49 John Hopkins? Marla, for her part, blows her brother kisses and calls his name.
33:55 John Hopkins? The only time Zach smiles while trapped on the ledge is when he sees his little sister's affection.
34:03 John Hopkins? But the reality of the situation is crushing. The storm is showing no signs of lifting, and with every minute, sunset creeps closer.
34:13 Speaker 05 I knew Zach couldn't spend the night. You're hiked for hours, then was exhausted from his time in the river. And if he fell asleep on that ledge at night, he would have just gotten swept in the river, and that would have been it. And then about an hour or so later, Jessica and Joanna returned and said, "Hey, it's too treacherous and too dangerous. We can't cross the stream." And so then my heart sunk like, you know, now it's getting a little bit later in the day. We've got to save him before sunset, because when it gets dark, it's going to be all over.
34:45 John Hopkins? And then, a glimmer of hope.
34:49 John Hopkins? Another hiker, Joanna's husband, John, is prepared to put his life at risk for Zach.
34:55 Speaker 05 And as it got later, John said, "I just got to find a way to get your son help." And said, "I don't want you to hurt yourself." And he said, "I won't." It turns out that John is an outdoor adventurer, had competed in these outdoor extreme challenges. And so he goes down to the next river crossing, where his wife and her sister Jessica couldn't have crossed. And he said to Joanna, "I've got to find a way across, or Zach's going to die." And she said, "If you think you can make it, I'll let you do it."
35:27 John Hopkins? Now, Zach's chances of survival rest solely on the shoulders of a complete stranger.
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36:10 Speaker 06 For families facing hunger this holiday, your generosity could mean one less difficult choice. Across the Feeding America network, your gift fulfills the promise of connecting neighbors to nourishing food and stability. This Thanksgiving, give at feedingamerica.org/holiday.
36:27 John Hopkins? It's 4:15 PM. Nine hours have passed since the Greenbergs began their hike. Zach has been trapped on the narrow ledge for nearly five of those hours.
36:39 John Hopkins? Rich has managed to keep communicating with him, telling him to stay awake and to keep away from the edge of the rocky platform. But as the storm continues and time ticks on, it seems increasingly unlikely that help will reach them before nightfall. How much longer can Zach stay like this?
37:02 John Hopkins? But just then, the noise of the rain and the wind is accompanied by a new sound, the whirring of a helicopter.
37:10 John Hopkins? John, the brave and kindly stranger who set out for help, has been successful. He managed to stumble through mud and wade through water before reaching another group of hikers further downriver. He raised the alarm, and the news traveled all the way to Ka Beach and to the search and rescue team.
37:31 Speaker 05 In my work at that time as a pediatric emergency medicine physician, I was kind of one of the people who would help control the liflight helicopters, the medical person in charge when they were going out to try and help a child. And I knew from that experience that the pilot of the liflight helicopter doesn't fly when it's too dangerous, that the pilot decides, is this too dangerous? It's not worth the risk to the crew to try and even help a child who may be in need. And here we are in this canyon, a narrow canyon with trees and greenery and branches everywhere. And the winds were huge and the rain was, I didn't even think it could rain that hard. It was the most torrential downpour that I could imagine would happen in the Amazon jungle.
38:15 Speaker 05 And it kept raining harder and harder. And I thought, there's no way a helicopter gets in this canyon.
38:22 John Hopkins? But despite Rich's incredulity, there's no denying that really is a helicopter flying above the trees.
38:30 Speaker 05 We heard this sound and I'm like, oh my gosh, that's a helicopter rotor coming up the canyon. And I was in disbelief. My eyes didn't see it at first and I was like, are my ears playing tricks on me under this loud environment? And all of a sudden we see this gorgeous red helicopter.
38:53 John Hopkins? Dangling in a harness beneath the helicopter is a rescue worker who lands expertly on the saturated river bank before making his way towards the hikers.
39:04 John Hopkins? He notices the two men in the river, the pair who lowered themselves in hours ago to catch Zack should he slip. The rescuer tries to help them first, having not yet spotted the 12-year-old perched perilously on a ledge over the water.
39:21 Speaker 04 They first landed him on the opposite side of the river from me. And they started to rescue and put someone in the harness, thinking that, "Oh, these are the people stranded on the river." And they started to tell him, "No, no, no, rescue him, the kid on the other side of the river."
39:40 John Hopkins? The rescuer, named Aaron, weighs up the situation. The helicopter pilot cannot see Zack in his current position. This will be a blind rescue, which is as dangerous as it sounds.
39:55 John Hopkins? Every second they spend deliberating reduces Zack's chance of survival. So Aaron makes a snap decision. He'll go into the river and make his way over to Zack. He might just be able to grab him off the ledge.
40:09 John Hopkins? What will happen after that is less certain.
40:15 John Hopkins? Still attached to the helicopter by a long line and a harness, Aaron carefully lowers himself into the thundering river and wades towards Zack.
40:25 John Hopkins? But the storm's winds and the downwash of the helicopter make everything harder. Zack is slammed against the wall of the ledge while Aaron's pulled in the opposite direction. They're like two magnets, constantly repelling each other.
40:39 Speaker 04 He signaled for me to come closer to him, beckoning with his hand. And in my little mind at the time, I was thinking he was telling me to go to him. And so I thought he was telling me to jump to him.
40:54 John Hopkins? It's a gamble. Aaron, now holding on to a branch, is still three or four feet away. If Zack leaps into the river and falls short of the rescuer's arms, he'll be swept downstream, where the sheer drop awaits.
41:10 John Hopkins? But if he stays on the ledge, he'll remain trapped. Aaron holds out his arms.
41:17 Speaker 04 And here I am watching this surreal scene that I think they couldn't even reduplicate that in a Hollywood blockbuster movie. And here it is, I'm watching it. And not only am I watching it, it's happening to me and to my son and to my family.
41:32 John Hopkins? Taking his one shot at survival, Zack leaps.
41:38 John Hopkins? The last vestiges of strength in his legs propel him into the air.
41:43 John Hopkins? Everything stops.
41:47 Speaker 04 And all of a sudden, I'm just in his arms. I just jumped. I jumped and he let go of the branches and caught me.
41:56 John Hopkins? Unbeknownst to Zach, Aaron never intended for him to leap. He was moving slowly towards the 12-year-old so that he could lift him off the ledge in a controlled way. But somehow, it's worked out.
42:11 John Hopkins? Aaron grips Zach in a bear hug, radios to the pilot that he has the boy, and the helicopter lifts them up and away.
42:20 Speaker 04 I remember the flight over the lush valley. It was so beautiful, probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You're flying over, looking out over this beautiful valley and mountains that are gorgeous, almost like sheer, sheer spikes pointing right out of the sky that are very lush, green and beautiful.
42:45 John Hopkins? Minutes later, the helicopter returns to the river, and it's Rich and Marla's turn to be rescued.
42:52 John Hopkins? Swallowing his crippling fear of heights, Rich allows himself to be carried away from the flooded riverbank, the scene of his nightmare for the past five hours.
43:03 John Hopkins? He soars above the rain-soaked trees and to the safety of the landing zone, a clearing a few miles downstream atop a 700-foot cliff.
43:15 John Hopkins? Rich sees his son. Though they've been separated by just 40 feet, it's felt like an entire universe.
43:22 Speaker 05 I picked up Marla and I saw Zach a little ways away and ran over to him and hugged him. It was such a joyous reunion to be able to put my arms around him and to know that he was safe. And it was just, just a surreal, amazing, amazing moment.
43:44 Speaker 06 The holidays sound a little different when we show up for one another. And for families facing hunger, your generosity could mean one less difficult choice. Across the Feeding America network, your donation fulfills the promise of connecting families to nourishing food and greater stability. When you give this holiday season, you help ensure more neighbors can gather around a meal. This Thanksgiving, give at feedingamerica.org/holiday.
44:13 Speaker 02 When you shop pickup at Kroger, you can expect the savings you love and fresh groceries selected just for you. Our associates are committed to getting every detail right, carefully handpicking your items, checking for quality and freshness, and packing your order with care. Because bringing you fresh, quality groceries is what we do best. And right now, enjoy $20 off your first online order of $75 or more. Restrictions apply. See site for details. Kroger, fresh for everyone.
44:44 John Hopkins? Over the next two hours, more hikers are rescued from the riverbank and brought to the landing zone, including Samantha, Carrie, and Steve. From there, the Greenbergs are transported back to Cayenne Beach, where their car awaits. Miraculously, despite losing his shoes and phone, Rich has held on to his car keys. The Greenbergs are able to drive to their condo, where a warm bath and a hot meal awaits. But not all of the hikers are so lucky. Darkness has forced the rescue mission to pause, and around 90 stranded hikers will have to spend the night in the storm. It's a tough pill for Rich to swallow.
45:30 Speaker 05 The biggest sensation I had, interestingly, was guilt. And I didn't recognize why. I just had this heavy guilt feeling, and I was so blessed and grateful to God to saving our lives in this most miraculous way. I was so blessed that my family was okay, but just guilt at the way I didn't understand how it had happened, why it had happened. And that here now, there were people who had given us their jackets, who had given us their shoes, who had risked their lives for us. And now, because of that, here they are. They're going to spend the night under the pouring rain all night long without their gear. And here, I'm going to end up going in my car and driving home and sleeping in my warm condo. And it just didn't seem fair. And I just had this heaviness.
46:19 John Hopkins? The next morning, to show gratitude to the hikers and rescue workers who put their lives on the line for them, Rich and Zach returned to the landing zone. There, they hand out bottles of water, food, and warm clothing.
46:34 John Hopkins? When the rescue mission is finally completed, four hours later, it's reported that all 121 people who were stranded on the Kalalau Trail have been saved. A miraculous outcome amidst flash floods.
46:48 John Hopkins? The Greenberg's holiday comes to an end four less eventful days later. As they wave goodbye to the hills and beaches of Hawaii, they know it's a holiday they won't forget in a hurry.
47:00 Speaker 05 I think too much gets purported on the news of the evil and the negative, which does happen in our society, but there's a lot of good that happens and a lot of amazing people. 12 individuals who were just strangers to our family dropped everything. Some of them said, as we saw Zach on that ledge, he became all of our son. And that just sums it up. They just looked at this stranger. They looked at this man who they didn't know. They looked at this boy they didn't know. And they just said, we're going to treat him as if he were our own child. And that's what they did.
47:34 John Hopkins? The moment he's back in Utah, Rich nominates Kawai's search and rescue team for an International Bravery Award. The prize money they win is enough to fund the team well into the future so that they can continue their heroic work.
47:50 John Hopkins? For Rich, it's a small token of gratitude to those who saved his son's life and gave him a new outlook on his own.
47:59 Speaker 05 Now I have a renewed and increased passion. I want to do everything I can to try and help others, to be the best pediatric ER doctor I can, to be the best friend or colleague or whatever I can to try and help others. And I'm far from perfect. But I just had a sense that God chose to save us for some reason. Since then, I just had a joy in my life of trying to make as many memories as possible. It was a poignant reminder to me that life is short and too fragile and you never know when it's going to change in an instant.
48:36 John Hopkins? Like his dad, Zach says he'll never forget the heroism he witnessed on that terrible day. Though he was only a child, it created deep-rooted sentiments that have never left him.
48:48 John Hopkins? Now, each day is a chance for him to emulate the kindness he received.
48:53 Speaker 04 It has helped me be able to look for more ways to serve other people. To look for ways to outreach to people, to help them in small ways, to smile at them, to give them a hand when they need it.
49:08 Speaker 04 This experience has definitely helped me have a better perspective on life.
49:26 John Hopkins? Next time on Real Survival Stories, we meet Arbelash Tomy. Back in 2018, the 39-year-old, a commander in the Indian Navy, takes leave from the military to compete in a unique yacht race. What sets this contest apart is that modern technology is forbidden. There's no GPS, no satellites, no computers, making it the purest test of sailing skill and the most treacherous.
49:56 John Hopkins? Only the best and the bravest dare compete.
50:00 John Hopkins? For Arbelash, it's a dream come true, until a catastrophe in the Indian Ocean changes everything. With a broken spine, thousands of miles from the nearest landmass, he might as well be lost in space.
50:18 John Hopkins? That's next time on Real Survival Stories. Listen right now without waiting a week by subscribing to Noiser Plus.
50:26 Speaker 02 Now at Kroger, your points add up to more ways to save every trip. Use them your way to take dollars off groceries at checkout or save at the pump. You can even save up to $35 on your next fill-up. Same points, more choices. And with low prices on fresh, quality food, plus digital and personalized offers tailored to how you shop, your dollar goes further. Redeem your points online or in the app. Kroger, fresh for everyone. Restrictions apply. See site or store for details.
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