Man, 24, is lost in river rapids in Yosemite National Park on hiking trip with friends after he bent down to get a drink of water
- Hayden Klemenok, 24, went missing in Yosemite Park on Sunday afternoon
- Friends said the San Diego resident leaned down to put his head in water
- Hayden’s father say rescuers have resorted to a recovery mission for his body
A 24-year-old man who was on a hiking trip in Yosemite National Park with friends went missing after being swept away by rushing waters over the weekend.
A recovery mission is currently underway for Hayden Klemenok, 24, who disappeared after he was pulled by a rushing river Sunday afternoon near the Chilnualna Falls Creek.
The financial analyst had leaned down on all fours in a stream to get his head wet and get a drink when the water grabbed ahold of him and took him downstream.
The trip was the fourth annual gathering for Hayden’s friend group, who said they chased after him after he was carried away by the river.
Hayden’s dad, Kevin Klemenok, said that while his family is hopeful, they are not expecting Hayden to be found alive after several days.
Hayden Klemenok who was on a hiking trip in Yosemite National Park with friends went missing after being swept away by rushing waters over the weekend
A recovery mission is currently underway for Klemenok, 24, who went missing Sunday afternoon near the Chilnualna Falls Creek (pictured)
Hayden (third from left) with his friends in a photo from their 2022 Yosemite trip
The rivers and creeks inside the iconic park have turned the hiking trails treacherous due to melting snow from a bad winter.
It was the worsened conditions that led to the waters at Chilnualna Falls Creek grabbing hold of Hayden and not letting go.
The hike they had been on was eight miles long with an elevation of 2,400 feet.
Friends told Kevin that Hayden had gotten down for just a brief moment when he was swept away. The group of eight chased after him but could not catch up.
Park rangers have since put up posters around the national park, asking anyone who may have seen something to reach out to them immediately.
“Simply knowing where you went and when you were there may help us focus the search, whether you saw anyone or not,’ the poster reads.
Kevin told NBC 7 that Park Rangers informed them on Tuesday that the search and rescue mission is now a recovery mission.
The search was still going on Wednesday as rangers looked for the 24-year-old financial analyst from the Bay Area.
Hayden was last seen wearing a tan, brimmed hat, white sunglasses, a red t-shirt, blue swimming trunks and white Adidas shoes.
Hayden graduated from San Diego State University in May according to his LinkedIn.
Hayden (left) with his dad Kevin Klemenok (middle) and brother Connor Klemenok (right)
Hayden graduated from San Diego State University in May according to his LinkedIn
The missing person sign shared by Yosemite National Park Rangers for Hayden
According to Kevin, the rivers and creeks inside the iconic park have turned the hiking trails treacherous due to melting snow from a bad winter
Hayden was wearing this hat and red shirt when he was picked up by the stream on Sunday
On Tuesday, friends of the Klemenok family set up a GoFundMe to help cover emergency expenses.
‘Michelle and family are currently taking time off work to look for Hayden. This go fund me is meant to help ease the pain of the costs of all the expenses and struggles they are currently facing,’ the fundraiser’s organizer wrote.
The friend said they are ‘all praying for a positive outcome’ but that Hayden’s whereabouts ‘are presumed devastating.’
The fundraiser has brought in just over $26,000 in less than 24 hours.
The melting snowpacks have wreaked havoc on communities of Northern California.
In May, an eight-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother were killed when they were swept away in a swollen river from melting snow.
