Reality show survivalist, master diver remembered after Honolulu crash

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Family members say 34-year-old Sarah Danser who was from Castle Rock, Colorado had lived in Hawaii for about twelve years.
She stared in the Discovery reality tv show “Naked and Afraid”, the all-stars show, and more recently, “Fight to Survive.”
Danser was a master diver, boat captain, survivalist and self-described ‘pirate.’
She lived part-time on a boat at Kewalo Basin and was known for her global adventures.
“Alright friends and fam. Now is the time. We are officially taking off,” she said on her Instagram reel during one adventure.
On Sunday night, Honolulu police say a crash involving two vehicles happened in Kahala on Diamond Head Road east of Poka Street.
Danser was a passenger in a car and wearing a seat belt.
The 59-year-old male driver, her friend, was traveling eastbound when the vehicle lost control and collided with a parked car.
Danser was hospitalized in critical condition. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was in serious condition. Two others were in the parked car. A woman was in serious condition and a man refused treatment.
Police said speed appeared to be a factor, but not drugs or alcohol.
Sarah’s father and brother arrived at the hospital Tuesday and say when she passed later that day, she was wearing lei, scarves and bandanas thanks to her friends.
“I actually saw how much of a difference she made in the lives of others,” said father Dan Danser.
“I think she saved my life once, diving in Indonesia,” he added.
“Magical is the way to describe her. Sarah had this positive energy about her that just really filled the environment that she was in,” said brother Jake Danser.
Family members say she survived breast cancer twice.
Friend and fellow diver, Tim Mason, says the community is heartbroken. He remembers large watch parties for Sarah and was inspired by her.
“She was smart. She went under the water. She found food, slugs and snails and stuff like that,” said Mason.
“She knew what to do to survive and she did great,” he added.
Danser worked at Island Divers Hawaii in Hawaii Kai and the company is working on an ocean memorial with her family.
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