David O'Sullivan, Irishman Last Heard From on 26th April 2017 from Idyllwild, California
Disappearance
Tuesday 10th, May 2022
The family of an Irishman who went missing in California while hiking in April 2017 have marked the five years since his disappearance and the last time they heard from him.
David O'Sullivan was last heard from on the 26th of April 2017 when he was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail which is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in the United States.
David from Midleton, Cork was 25 when he set out on the hike which is trail of some 2,653 miles. It has been reported that David was inspired to do the trail after reading the book 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed which was also adapted into a movie.
David last made contact with his family on the 26th of April 2017 in Idyllwild in Riverside County, a known stopping point along the Pacific Crest Trail and also posted a package from the town's post office.
David was approximately two and a half weeks along the trail and according to reports at the time there was three feet of snow in the mountains on the next stage of the trail that David was heading into.
David was due to meet up with a friend in Santa Barbara in early May but never showed up which cause his friend to raise the alarm due to concerns for David's well being.
His family field a missing person report in Ireland on the 30th June 2017 and David was officially listed as a missing person in the United States on the 17th of July 2017.
David's mother, Carmel O'Sullivan said on Ryan Tubridy's radio show in 2018 that she believes her son died from a fall or hypothermia. When asked if she thought her son, David was still alive she said, "No, I'm afraid I don't".
"He’s a year gone and there’s no activity in his bank account and he certainly wouldn’t have disappeared, he’s a very loyal child. He wouldn’t do this to us."
A recent post on David O'Sullivan's missing person Facebook group stated, "Today marks 5 years since David left Idyllwild, a small mountain town along the PCT where many hikers, including David, stop to rest and resupply."
"David emailed home the night before saying he was excited to return to the PCT and get on with his journey toward Canada."
David O'Sullivan was last heard from on the 26th of April 2017 when he was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail which is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in the United States.
David from Midleton, Cork was 25 when he set out on the hike which is trail of some 2,653 miles. It has been reported that David was inspired to do the trail after reading the book 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed which was also adapted into a movie.
David last made contact with his family on the 26th of April 2017 in Idyllwild in Riverside County, a known stopping point along the Pacific Crest Trail and also posted a package from the town's post office.
David was approximately two and a half weeks along the trail and according to reports at the time there was three feet of snow in the mountains on the next stage of the trail that David was heading into.
David was due to meet up with a friend in Santa Barbara in early May but never showed up which cause his friend to raise the alarm due to concerns for David's well being.
His family field a missing person report in Ireland on the 30th June 2017 and David was officially listed as a missing person in the United States on the 17th of July 2017.
David's mother, Carmel O'Sullivan said on Ryan Tubridy's radio show in 2018 that she believes her son died from a fall or hypothermia. When asked if she thought her son, David was still alive she said, "No, I'm afraid I don't".
"He’s a year gone and there’s no activity in his bank account and he certainly wouldn’t have disappeared, he’s a very loyal child. He wouldn’t do this to us."
A recent post on David O'Sullivan's missing person Facebook group stated, "Today marks 5 years since David left Idyllwild, a small mountain town along the PCT where many hikers, including David, stop to rest and resupply."
"David emailed home the night before saying he was excited to return to the PCT and get on with his journey toward Canada."
