SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. -- Matthew Abraham didn't remember who he was. He didn't know where he was from. Then the 21-year-old disappeared without a trace, all because of a traumatic brain injury.
Abraham fell nearly 60 feet off a tressel as he mountain biked in Henry Cowell State Park. He recovered physically but days later, a still disoriented Matt lost contact with his family. Search parties and canines, scoured the park, where they thought he had returned. But it turned out Matt had jumped on a bus to Sparks, Nevada and was found in Salt Lake City, Utah after a person traveling with him called police.
Matthew sat down exclusively with Central Coast News and spoke about what happened to him and how he found his way back home.
The pictures on Matthew Abraham's camera are the only things that really explain what exactly happened to Matt.
"It was this really bizarre, surreal feeling," said Abraham.
Abraham lives in Scotts Valley, but ended up in Salt Lake City, and he doesn't really know why.
"That's not something I would normally do, why would anyone leave Santa Cruz and go to Utah?" said Abraham.
After his head injury, for reasons unknown to Abraham, he began his destination to Pittsburgh. Why there? He said during this dream-like state, he saw "Steelers" stickers in his backpack, and thought that's where he was from.
Since Abraham didn't know who he was, on the road Abraham said, "I was telling them my name was Jackson."
He went to San Francisco, then Reno, and then Sparks, Nevada. Along the way he met Chris and the two ended up in Salt Lake City. That's when things started becoming clearer.
"I was like, something is definitely wrong. I shouldn't not know who I am," said Abraham.
Abraham and Chris went to a library and got on a computer. Once online he started searching names.
"There was Kyle, James, Chris, Matt and Jackson," said Abraham.
These names aren't just random, they were his best friends here at home in Scotts Valley. His brain was starting to remember.
Once he searched "Matt- missing" several images started popping up online, including an image of him. "Jackson" was actually Matt, and there was a search for him.
Now, four days after he was found and back at home, Abraham and his family are relieved that everything turned out okay. And while this story ended happily, Abraham and his family hope his experiences can show others to be aware of one another. This was potentially saved Abraham's life.
Doctors say Abraham will have a full recovery and will perform cognitive tests to make sure that everything is okay. Abraham plans on starting college this fall.
