A hiker with a terminal illness is presumed to have perished after venturing into the ocean along the Outer Banks. His loyal dog accompanied him on the journey.
Christopher Palmer, aged 39, embarked on a trip to the Smoky Mountains on December 8. His vehicle was eventually found abandoned over a month later.
After learning that Christopher was battling a terminal condition, his family decided to end the search for him, according to a message written by his father, Bren Palmer, on Facebook.
“With deep regret and sadness, our family has decided to halt all active search efforts for Christopher,” his father expressed.
“We recently discovered that Christopher was dealing with a terminal illness. This revelation has given us insight into the decisions he made.”
“Christopher cherished the great outdoors and his autonomy. The treatments he faced would have significantly altered his life, a change he wished to avoid,” he further explained.
Bren said that his son’s personal belongings had been discovered along the coastline, and his family believed that Palmer had ‘perished in the sea’.
‘As heartbreaking as this is, we have found a measure of peace in that understanding,’ he wrote.
Christopher Palmer, 39, traveled in December across national parks with his dog, Zoey, before he disappeared in January. He is believed to have walked into the ocean and died
Palmer is thought to have entered the ocean in the Outer Banks, after his phone pinged between Avon and Cape Point. His truck was discovered on Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Palmer’s father, Bren Palmer, said his family believed terminal illness drove their son to take his own life
After Palmer’s departure to the Smoky Mountains, he kept in contact with his family and informed them of his whereabouts, Bren said.
The seasoned national park camper travelled across Boone Fork and George Washington National Forest until his final text message said he was headed to Monongahela National Forest, according to his father.
Palmer was said to have sent his family a video of where he was, but said the signal was too ‘spotty to talk.’
He was officially declared missing on January 16, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Two days later, his family received a call from the Greene County Sheriff’s Department who had discovered Palmer’s abandoned truck on January 12.
Officers observed a blue-and-white kayak in the back of the vehicle on security footage, which was not found with it, according to a release from the NPS.
‘Additionally, pings to Palmer’s mobile phone indicate that the phone was located near Avon on the evening of Jan 10 and near Cape Point in Buxton on Jan 11,’ the parks spokesman added.
Palmer’s red Ford F250 truck was discovered on a beach in North Carolina, ‘hours away in the opposite direction he was headed,’ his father wrote.
Palmer’s red Ford F250 truck was discovered abandoned on a beach in North Carolina, ‘hours away in the opposite direction he was headed,’ his father said
The Palmer family said beloved dog Zoey was a ‘beautiful, well-behaved’ eleven-year-old German Shepherd who he loved and was ‘very sick’ and on medication
Palmer’s family said they are ‘deeply proud of the man Christopher was’ and hope his story raises awareness of the mental health toll on those facing medical challenges
‘No sign of him or his dog Zoey,’ Bren added.
The heartbroken family made the difficult decision to call off the search for their son on January 24 after learning of his illness. It remains unclear what Palmer was diagnosed with.
‘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,’ Bren said.
The family said Palmer’s beloved dog Zoey was a ‘beautiful, well-behaved’ eleven-year-old German Shepherd whom he loved.
‘She has been by his side since she was a puppy,’ Bren added.
Zoey was ‘very sick,’ according to Palmer’s family, and took several medications as well as suffering from severe hip dysplasia.
‘It’s our belief that our son spent some time in the woods to be with her in her final days,’ Palmer continued. ‘Evidence of that was a shovel found in his truck and after her passing, he laid her to rest and continued his trip to the coast.’
‘We would like to thank the United Cajun Navy and every volunteer, first responder, and community member who searched for our son. It has been profoundly humbling to see so many people care for someone they never met.
Our family is at peace and asks that Christopher’s memory and the safety of others be respected as we seek closure.’
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the US, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988, or by chatting at 988lifeline.org.
