Atlanta hiker says it’s a miracle he’s alive after volcano rescue

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Zain Waliany’s every step leads to an adventure. His latest hike took him to Antigua, Guatemala, to hike the more than 13,000-foot-long El Volcán Acatenango volcano. Waliany separated from his friend on the way up. When he never returned to base camp, his friend called a search party and reported him missing.

“We went from being tourists and having such a healthy vacation to falling off a cliff, lost in the jungle,” Waliany said. “It was a four-day, four-night journey. My chances of survival were less than 20 percent.”

RELATED: Atlanta hiker missing in Guatemala found alive: family

Waliany said that after spraining his ankle hiking up the volcano, he fell 400 feet off a cliff, leaving him to fend for himself against the elements in a foreign country known for being home to animals dangerous and deadly. His cell phone died. He slept in caves and relied on rainwater to stay alive. He also found a dog that he said helped him get back to civilization.

“I should have died instantly. I believe in miracles because I fell through so many trees and vines which broke my fall,” Waliany said. “The worst thing I got out of it was a bruised kidney and an injured shoulder. This dog was an angel in disguise. Every time his ears perked up, I realized we didn’t need to continue like this. We had to go the other way.

Waliany said he took a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some bananas that he shared with the dog while he was missing. Helicopters, drones, K-9s and local volunteers helped with the search and rescue mission while Waliany’s family waited for a miracle nearly 4,000 miles away.

“They were ready to move mountains,” Waliany said. “I had so many people in Guatemala, through charity, that people were just investing their time. I have so much love and appreciation for all of those people.”

After four days of no contact, Waliany finally came across a farm road while following what looked like runoff of rainwater. He also encountered the police. He said an officer brought him to safety and helped him get medical attention.

“I was just excited to see people. I was talking to myself for four days,” Waliany said. “I was ready, so ready to talk to someone. There are a lot of things that could have gone wrong for me. It’s truly a miracle that I managed to get through it.

Waliany recommends bringing an emergency survival kit, a knife and a lighter if you’re going on a long-term hike. As for his next adventure, Waliany plans to fly to Japan to snowboard once he gets his passport back from his parents.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources also suggests some tips for hikers, including avoiding hiking alone, staying on marked trails and wearing light-colored clothing to ensure maximum visibility.

“The world is big,” Waliany said. “It’s sad to stay in one place and not experience everything else. This adventure changed my life. I had mild anxiety issues and other mental issues. Obviously, being alone in an environment where I only had myself and the dog with me, it was give me the bare necessities. There were many times when I just prayed, took a leap of faith, and by the grace of. God, I’m here now.