Hikers, mountain bikers fall ill due to extreme heat
By SDCN Editor
Jacumba Mountains, CA–A group of hikers and mountain bikers had fallen ill, and one died due to the extreme heat near Goat Canyon Trestle in a remote area of the Jacumba Mountains on Sunday, authorities said.
Sheriff’s Rural Command responded to two separate calls just before 2:30 p.m., of groups of people who had fallen ill near Goat Canyon Trestle.
Due to the groups being in areas with poor cell phone reception, the Sheriff’s Department was unable to immediately pinpoint their general location.
Sheriff’s Emergency Services dispatchers received the initial 9-1-1 call at around 2:24 p.m. The dispatchers had to call the hiker’s cell phone number several times in order to find a location.
As soon as a general location was determined deputies were dispatched to the area. They also requested assistance from the Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter, Cal Fire San Diego, and the U.S. Border Patrol.
When deputies arrived, they found a group of hikers in distress. Three hikers had to be airlifted to safety to be treated for dehydration. A fourth hiker was able to walk back to the trailhead on their own.
First responders also located a group of mountain bikers who were in distress because of the heat. One of them had collapsed and required medical attention. Despite receiving life-saving measures from first responders, the man died while being transported from the DeAnza Spring Resort to an air ambulance.
The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The names of the parties involved are being withheld at this time pending family notification.
