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Photographer who quit his job to travel around the world suffers tragic fate
A photographer who opted to exchange his career as an accountant for his desire to explore the world is fighting for his life after plunging around 200 feet down a cliff while hiking in Portugal.
Kyle Quin Schrock, 36, from San Diego, California, was trekking on the island of Madeira on October 11 when, according to his family, the path suddenly gave way beneath him, sending him tumbling towards the ground.
Photographer shares update from hospital
The adventurer later shared a harrowing update from his hospital bed, showing cuts and injuries across his face as he spoke through the pain.
“I thought it was my death,” Schrock recalled in a video posted to Instagram.
He explained that he was eventually caught by a small bush growing from the cliffside, although he had little faith it would be strong enough to hold him.
“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,” he admitted.
While hanging precariously above the drop, Schrock then heard someone calling out to him, before looking up and spotting a person in a helicopter who confirmed they could see him and told him rescuers were on their way.
“And that was the best news I could ever get,” he revealed, briefly pausing to put his oxygen mask back on.
The photographer, who has built an Instagram following of 1.3 million people, said that he had struggled to come to terms with his situation since the accident.
“Life has stayed so still since I got here,” he said in the clip, which was posted last week. “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,” he continued, visibly struggling as he spoke.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Schrock wanted to reassure his huge following that he had survived and express his gratitude to those who helped save him.
“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 ended the update by looking towards the future, and promising he would eventually return to the outdoors and make the most of life again.
“Get back out there and enjoy life again,” he vowed. “But for now, I'll be here,” he added.
A fundraising campaign has since been launched to help cover the costs associated with his recovery, with the page describing Schrock as someone who has “traversed the world 10x over.”
His sister-in-law, Tara Schrock, explained that the road ahead would be a difficult one, with the photographer facing rehabilitation and further medical treatment once he returns to the United States.
“He has a long road to recovery with travel assistance, rehabilitation and further medical needs in the USA,” she revealed. “He will also not be able to work for months.”
It remains unclear whether Schrock has health insurance, but by Sunday evening, donations to the online fundraiser had reached almost $12,900.
Schrock's bold move from accountancy to traveling
The devastating accident comes years after Schrock made the move to leave his accounting job and pursue his passion for travel and photography.
“I was an accountant who spent my days dreaming of adventure,” he previously told the Daily Mail.
“Eventually, all the daydreaming convinced me that if I never got out and traveled I would regret it.”
Schrock had originally intended to spend six months traveling before returning to his career, but the experience proved to be the start of something much bigger.
“I initially planned a six-month road trip to get the travel bug out of me, but it turns out that was just the beginning.
“Through photography and social media, I was able to gain a following and eventually attract some brands who wanted to work with me.”
Growing up in Southern California, Schrock spent much of his early life surfing and skating before moving to Hawaii for university, where he developed a deeper appreciation for the outdoors.
“I grew up in a city in Southern California and spent most of my days surfing and skating,” he said.
“I then moved to Hawaii to attend college and it was here that I really fell in love with hiking and camping in nature.
“I'd definitely recommend this lifestyle to anyone and to any budding photographers I'd encourage them to strive to capture different angles and get a unique style,” he
“Be consistent and most importantly make as many like-minded friends as possible.”