The view of sunset from the Lost Coast Trail on June 24. Screenshot of a video by Sashank Upadhyayula.

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Almost a week after being discovered with severe injuries and memory loss along the Lost Coast Trail, Sashank Upadhyayula is still trying to piece together what happened to him. 

Upadhyayula, a 34-year-old first-time backpacker from San Jose, was found hypothermic and covered in blood by a group of six teens and two camp counselors on the morning of June 25th. The two adults dressed some of his wounds and called for helicopter rescue by satellite phone, and Upadhyayula was taken to a hospital and released the same day.

Upadhyayula told the Outpost in an email that he has wounds on his arms, torso and throat, and shared what he can remember of the moments before and after he was injured. 

Around 10 p.m. on Monday, June 24, “I remember hearing something, being scared and removing my bear spray, my two knives, water reservoir and my electronics,” Upadhyayula said. Next he can recall, Upadhyayula woke up in the surf. “[I] made my way to the trail and collapsed after getting my mylar blanket. I covered my torso with the blanket and assumed fetal position to retain heat.” 

He was found around 9 a.m. the next morning. 

“The doctors believe that it was a knife [or] bladed weapon,” Upadhyayula said. “With my lack of memory and because my knives are missing and how I was separated from my pack and found quite a distance away […] it all points towards me being attacked.”

Upadhyayula reported the incident to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) King Range National Conservation Area Office. 

BLM King Range Area Manager Paul Sever told the Outpost that the Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation. But at this time, there is “no reason to believe that there is any threat to public health or safety” along the Lost Coast Trail, Sever said. 

The Sheriff’s Office didn’t respond to requests for comment. We’ll update if more information becomes available.  

[CORRECTION: The Sheriff’s Office had, in fact, sent us this response, which slipped through our inbox this morning. Apologies.]

The HCSO is continuing to investigate this incident but there is currently no information to suggest there is any current/on-going threat to safety of the public along the Lost Coast Trail. As with any such remote/rural area, we encourage people to make sure they are adequately prepared for the rugged terrain of that area (adequate food, clothing, maps, GPS enabled location/emergency notification device) and as with anywhere, people should always be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity/behavior to law enforcement.

“I just want to thank the people that helped rescue me and I want the other hikers in that area just to be aware of their surroundings and to make sure that nothing like this happens ever again,” Upadhyayula said. 

To his rescuers, Upadhyayula added: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I cannot express my gratitude, you are doing God’s work. I hope you achieve your dreams. Happy trails!”