A California man spent two harrowing days trapped in a cave behind a waterfall after a rappelling attempt went dangerously wrong, according to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
The ordeal began on August 10, when 46-year-old Ryan Wardwell tried to rappel down the Seven Teacups waterfall — a multi-tiered cascade on Dry Meadow Creek, just before it meets the Kern River. The location is popular among canyoneers, but conditions were unusually treacherous that day.
Wardwell had set out with friends, but they turned back after noticing the creek's unusually high water level. Concerned for his safety, they left a note on his car asking anyone who saw it still parked the next day to alert authorities. When Wardwell didn’t return, a search effort was launched.
Crews used aircraft with infrared cameras but were initially unsuccessful in locating him. Finally, on August 12, a drone was flown behind the waterfall where they discovered Wardwell alive, sheltering in a dark cave.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that “extreme hydraulics” had forced him behind the waterfall, where he remained trapped for two days, unable to escape the powerful current.
A dramatic rescue followed. A California Highway Patrol helicopter maneuvered carefully into the narrow canyon and hoisted Wardwell to safety. A video released by the department shows the helicopter hovering just feet from the rushing water.
Wardwell was treated for minor injuries and dehydration. He was later reunited with his family, concluding what authorities called a “stunning survival story.”