Woman whose dad killed himself after she mysteriously disappeared from airport shares new video about her ‘loss’
A US woman who became famous after vanishing from Los Angeles at the end of last year has shared a video about 'loss', following the death of her father.
Hannah Kobayashi made headlines across the US and internationally when she was reported missing by her family after failing to board a connecting flight from LAX to New York on 8 November alongside her ex-boyfriend.
The Hawaii native was reported missing by her mother and sister two days later, prompting a major search.
Kobayashi's case was later be re-classified as a 'voluntary missing person' when footage emerged of her crossing the US border into Mexico.
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The 30-year-old's exact whereabouts would remain unknown for a month, before she was ultimately tracked down in Mexico on 11 December.
The Kobayashi family would suffer further tragedy in the weeks following Hannah's disappearance, as her father Ryan Kobayashi was found deceased at the bottom of a Los Angeles parking garage after flying out to aid with the search.
His death would later be ruled as suicide.
Hannah has kept a low profile in the months following her disappearance, however a recent video shows the 31-year-old addressing 'loss' in her life.
Posting an update via Instagram Stories, Hannah first said she wanted people to know how 'grateful' she was for everyone who dedicated 'time and energy' to looking for her last year.
"It means the world to me," she said. "Thank you so much... from the bottom of my heart."
She followed the clip with a second, more poignant video where she spoke about life being 'such a gift'.
"Especially after such loss... and pain, and suffering," a tearful Hannah continued.
"We should all learn to be kind to one and other, no matter the circumstances and cherish every single moment that we can."
Although Hannah didn't directly reference her father, it would appear several of the photographer's followers believed his passing was related to her recent posts.
Her first post on the social media platform after her November disappearance involved a black-and-white photograph of trees, alongside a lengthy caption talking about 'unwaivering [sic] resilience' being a 'true remembrance'.
The post was met with support from her followers, with many commenting that it was a relief to see Hannah back online.
"So nice to see you back! Sending you love and light," one person commented, while another user shared their own experiences of dealing with the death of a parent. "Wishing you the best in the future," they penned. "I’m sorry for your loss."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Brenna Cooper