Israeli-American hiker Samuel Vengrinovich survived nine harrowing days in the Himalayas by consuming insects and his urine after a catastrophic fall left him with multiple fractures and stranded in the wilderness.
Key Takeaways
- Samuel Vengrinovich, 44, survived nine days lost in the Himalayas with multiple fractures after becoming disoriented in heavy fog and falling off a mountainside.
- He kept himself alive by eating insects, berries, grass, and drinking his urine after leaving most of his supplies at his campsite.
- Vengrinovich had moved to India eight months before escaping the Israel-Hamas War, seeking healing from the trauma of the October 7, 2023 attack.
- A massive search effort was launched, including local teams and an Israeli delegation, with his family raising over $66,000 through GoFundMe.
- He eventually found a remote Himalayan village on June 15 and contacted rescuers, but now faces substantial medical bills as his surgeries are not covered by insurance.
From Spiritual Journey to Survival Nightmare
Samuel Vengrinovich’s planned two-day hike on Mount Triund near Dharamshala, India, transformed into a desperate fight for survival after dense fog caused him to lose his way on June 9. The 44-year-old Bay Area native had been living in India for eight months after leaving Israel due to the ongoing conflict. What started as part of a healing journey following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 became a test of human endurance when he fell off the mountainside, sustaining multiple fractures, and found himself completely isolated in the rugged Himalayan wilderness.
“And then Thursday, he texted us saying ‘I’m gonna go on a hike’ and then we started talking about doing a family reunion next month,” said Natasha Vengrinovich, Samuel’s sister.
When Vengrinovich failed to return from his hike by the expected date and could not be reached, his sister raised the alarm. The situation was particularly concerning as he had left his phone and most belongings at his campsite. As the hours turned into days, Vengrinovich’s family grew increasingly desperate, initiating a GoFundMe campaign that would eventually raise over $66,000 to support search efforts, medical care, and the eventual cost of bringing him home to the United States.
Extreme Measures for Survival
With a broken arm and other serious injuries from his fall, Vengrinovich was forced to rely on his instincts and survival skills. Cut off from civilization and without his supplies, he made the critical decision to follow a river, hoping it would lead to a settlement. During his nine-day ordeal, he sustained himself by consuming whatever he could find in the wilderness: insects, berries, and grass. When dehydration threatened his survival, he resorted to drinking his urine, a desperate but life-saving measure that kept him alive long enough to find help.
“He ate insects along the way to survive and was following the river to get to Dharamshala village,” said Vengrinovich’s sister, Natasha.
The search for Vengrinovich was extensive, involving local authorities, community members, and even a special Israeli delegation. The rescue efforts included helicopter services and specialized equipment, all funded in part by the family’s fundraising campaign. Meanwhile, as days passed with no sign of the missing hiker, hopes began to dim for those involved in the search operations.
A Miracle in the Mountains
On June 15, nine days after disappearing, Vengrinovich stumbled upon a remote village in the Himalayas where he was able to contact rescuers. His survival against such overwhelming odds was immediately hailed as miraculous by his family and the search teams. After being located, he was quickly transported to a hospital where medical staff began treating his injuries, including the multiple fractures he had sustained during his fall.
“To say it’s a miracle is an understatement,” remarked Natasha after learning her brother had been found alive.
“Sam wasn’t just another backpacker. He was on a mission—to heal,” explained his friend Eliyahu Freedman, highlighting the spiritual purpose behind Vengrinovich’s journey to India.
Long Road to Recovery
Though Vengrinovich survived his ordeal in the wilderness, his journey is far from over. Currently hospitalized in India, he faces substantial medical expenses as his surgeries are not covered by insurance. The GoFundMe campaign that initially helped fund the search efforts has now been repurposed to cover his medical care and the cost of eventually flying him back to Florida, where family members await his return. His remarkable story of survival serves as a testament to human resilience and the will to live, even in the most dire circumstances.
“Vengrinovich set out on the hike as part of a healing mission to lessen the pain he still felt from Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war,” his friend wrote in The Times of Israel.
