A man who abandoned his accountancy career to embark on a journey of world travel is now in a critical condition, battling for his life after enduring a fall down a 200-foot cliff. Kyle Quin Schrock, 36, was hiking in Madeira, Portugal, on 11th October when the ground beneath him gave way.
His family has reported that he is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU), suffering from broken ribs. He is awaiting spinal surgery and also requires drainage of his lungs. In a video shared with his 1.3 million Instagram followers, the photographer recounted the terrifying experience: "I thought it was my death."
Schrock further explained his miraculous survival: "But eventually [I] got caught on a piece of grass, like a little bush. [It] did not feel strong enough for me to get caught on, I was very surprised." While desperately clinging to life, he heard a voice from above, a helicopter rescuer informing him that help was imminent. He described this as "the best news he could ever get."
Despite the "really precarious situation" he found himself in, Schrock was soon rescued and promptly transported to hospital. Speaking from his hospital bed, requiring an oxygen mask to assist his breathing, he conveyed his current state: "Life has stayed so still since I got here. I feel like I've been in a weird daze, really struggling to maintain any normalcy. I'm in extreme amounts of pain, my back is broken, my ribs are broken, my sternum is broken."
The photographer concluded his update with a message of gratitude and determination: "But I wanted to give you guys an update – I am alive, I'm grateful to be alive, grateful to have friends that called the life flight for me, they did an awesome job." He affirmed his resolve to "get back out there" but conceded, "For now, I'll be here."
Schrock's family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the substantial expenses associated with his medical care and his eventual return travel to the USA. The fundraiser notes: "He has a long road to recovery with travel assistance, rehabilitation and further medical needs in the USA. He will also not be able to work for months."
The family expressed their hope that financial support would alleviate some of the stress, stating, "We're hoping to ease some of that stress in any way possible with some financial support. Any little bit helps." They concluded with an appeal: "Keep our guy in your thoughts and prayers please. Hopes of peace in your journey."