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Yoga Instructor Found In Stream 17 Days After Going Missing

Yoga Instructor Found In Stream 17 Days After Going Missing

Rescuers found her four miles from where she left her car

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Incredible footage has been released showing the moment a yoga teacher who had been missing for more than two weeks in a forest was airlifted to safety.

Amanda Eller, 35 had been missing since 8 May when she left her phone at home and went hiking in the Makawao Forest Reserve trail in Maui, Hawaii.

According to authorities, helicopter search crews found Ms Eller on Friday evening, lying in a stream bed around four miles from where she had left her car.

The incredible news was confirmed on social media when a volunteer tweeted: "THEY DID IT!!! #findamanda Amanda Eller has been found alive! After 17 days lost in the steep jungles of East Maui, the never-ending determination & steadfast faith of THESE and HUNDREDS of volunteer searchers paid off!"

Speaking to Maui News, lead searcher Chris Berquist said instantly knew it was her.

He said: "I've seen that girl every day for the last two weeks about 100 times a day. There was no mistake it was her. Even from 200 feet, we knew."

Ms Eller was missing for 17 days in the Makawao Forest Reserve.
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Photographs of the fitness instructor, following her rescue, show her wearing a white vest, with burns to her face and feet.

However, Mr Berquist later told ABC News that she wasn't badly hurt, saying: "We found her in a stream bed, she was waving up at us while we were in the helicopter, and we got her out nice and safe.

"She was not injured. She has a little bit of exposure from the sun, a little bit of sunburn. She lost her shoes a few days in. But no injuries."

He added: "She was very alert, she knew her father's phone number, she knew who she was, where she was, knew exactly how long she had been out there - very surprised to see us."

According to a family friend, Ms Eller was found in a ravine near Twin Falls and had managed to survive off water and plants.

The fitness instructor survived on water and plants.
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Ms Eller's dad told local press: "She was smart. She was strong. She was prepared. We said that at the beginning and it was absolutely true.

"She was prepared for this. She was prepared for it her whole life."

At the time of her disappearance, her boyfriend Benjamin Konkol, said he couldn't give up hope on finding her and believed her would find her.

Mr Konkol was the last person to see his partner before she vanished.

Police released CCTV footage of the physical therapist stopping at the Ha'iku Post Office, on the day she went out for a hike in the nature reserve.

She had to be airlifted to safety, four miles from where she left her car.
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Initially, her parents put up a $10,000 reward for her safe return, after fearing she may have been kidnapped - it was later increased to $50,000.

Speaking at the time, her mum said: "This a mother's worst nightmare and it has been an emotional roller-coaster.

"I've tried to stay positive. If I let myself get mired in self pity of how terrible this is, I can't help her if I'm caught up in that.

"She is an inspiration to me, particularly since I've been on my own personal journey lately."

According to reports, police said during the investigation that there was no evidence of a third party being involved.

Featured Image Credit: Facebook

Topics: Interesting, US News, Health