Additional Coverage:
- Heartbreak as missing North Carolina hiker’s dad learns what happened in his final moments (irishstar.com)
Search for Missing Hiker Chris Palmer Concludes After Heartbreaking Discovery
The search for Chris Palmer, a 39-year-old hiker reported missing earlier this month, has been called off after his family made a poignant announcement. Palmer, whose abandoned Ford F-150 was discovered in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, is now believed to have perished at sea.
Palmer was last seen on January 12, exploring the area with his dog, Zoey. His vehicle was found, but a blue-and-white kayak, visible in surveillance footage from January 9, was absent, leading to initial confusion for investigators. The family had not heard from Palmer, who was on a road trip through various National Parks, since the day the surveillance image was taken.
In an emotional statement shared on Facebook, Palmer’s father, Bren, revealed the difficult decision to cease active search efforts. “With heavy hearts and profound sorrow, we, the family of Christopher Palmer, have made the difficult decision to request that all active search efforts for our son cease,” he wrote.
The statement clarified a crucial detail that had previously been unknown: “We recently learned that Christopher was facing a terminal illness.” Bren Palmer further explained that his son’s personal belongings were found along the coastline, leading the family to believe he “perished at sea.”
Neither Palmer’s body, his kayak, nor his dog have been recovered. However, the family expressed a sense of “peace” after learning of Chris’s diagnosis, stating that “knowing this has helped us understand the choices he made.”
“Christopher loved the outdoors and valued his independence,” Bren Palmer continued. “The treatments ahead would have taken much of that away, and he did not want that future for himself.” He added, “We are deeply proud of the man Christopher was, and we hope his story brings awareness to the emotional and mental burdens people can face during serious medical challenges.”
The family extended their gratitude to the United Cajun Navy, volunteers, first responders, and community members who assisted in the search. “It has been profoundly humbling to see so many people care for someone they never met,” Bren Palmer said.
Concluding his message, Bren Palmer stated, “Our family is at peace and asks that Christopher’s memory and the safety of others be respected as we seek closure.”