'I am safe': US kayaker who faked death sends video message to police

A man from the United States who faked his death and fled the country, now sent his video to Wisconsin investigators to prove that he is alive and safe. 

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, went missing on August 12 while on a solo fishing trip, as per Lake County Sheriff's Office. 

Initially, it looked like Ryan had drowned which led to the search of the lake for 54 days until the digital evidence led police to suspect he had fled to Eastern Europe. The authorities said Ryan owed them $40,000 for the cost that went into his search. 

Ryan could also be charged with obstructing the investigation into his disappearance, said police.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll told a press conference on Thursday (Nov 21) that the authorities had been in contact with Ryan since earlier this month, after contacting a woman who speaks Russian.

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The woman, whose details are not revealed by law enforcement, helped connect him to police. 

"The great news is he's still alive and well," Podoll said. 

“The bad news is that we don’t know where exactly Ryan is, and he has not decided to return home.”

Ryan shared a 24-second video and sent it to authorities in selfie-style which shows him in an apartment with white walls.

“Good evening, it’s Ryan Borgwardt,” he says. “Today is 11 November. It’s approximately 10 am by you guys. I’m in my apartment.

"I am safe, secure, no problem. I hope this works.”

Ryan himself revealed to the police how he orchestrated his getaway during near-daily exchanges. 

Police say that after sinking his kayak and mobile phone in the lake, he paddled a small boat to shore where he had stashed an e-bike. He cycled overnight to Madison, Wisconsin and boarded a bus to Detroit. Ryan then got on a plane in Canada to an undisclosed location.

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“We are continuing to verify this information, trying to put the dots together,” Podoll said. “But we feel that this was Ryan’s way that he could tell the entire country how he did it.”

It is believed that Ryan has acted alone in his disappearance and Podoll added that he has not had any contact with his family since he left.

He left behind three children and his wife.

(With inputs from agencies)