Rescued Yoga Teacher Apologizes After Going Missing In Hawaii Forest For 17 Days

A yoga teacher was found alive 17 days after disappearing in a Hawaii forest, and now, she is apologizing for having caused everyone so much worry.

In a Facebook video, Amanda Eller said she was unprepared when she attempted to go on a short hike in the Makawao Forest Reserve in Maui.

“I wanted to stay out of the limelight but feel I need to make a statement to clear up some misunderstandings,” Eller said, showing her bandaged legs in the clip.

“It was never my intention, through any of this, to put anybody in harm’s way, to create a rescue effort out of my being lost in the woods,” she said in the video.

As RadarOnline.com readers know, Eller was found by a team of rescuers who were scouting the area via helicopter. At the time, she was severely dehydrated and injured, but alive.

“I just want to apologize for any kind of rescue efforts people feel were unnecessary. I apologize and I also thank every single person that showed up, boots on the ground, to try and help in finding me… I’m in such awe and gratitude of all of the people that helped me find my way back to my family,” Eller continued.

She explained that about half way into her three-mile hike, she sat down under a tree to meditate, and when she got up, she lost her way. She’d left her phone in the car and could not figure out how to return.

In the video, Eller clarified that she was completely sober and did not take any drugs, she simply got confused.

“I realize that I was irresponsible, that I should have had my cellphone with me, that I should have had some water with me, some kind of preparatory tools that you bring with you when you go hiking,” Eller said.

She also explained that while she previously called getting lost in the forest and being rescued a “spiritual experience,” she did not mean for any of it to happen and is only looking to see the silver lining after such a traumatic incident.