Latest news with #PlacerCountySheriff'sOffice
Los Angeles Times
25-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Man dives off California waterfall, two others try to save him; all three drown
The bodies of three men who vanished after diving into a Northern California waterfall have now been recovered, authorities said. 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,' the Placer County Sheriff's Office posted on social media Sunday. The sheriff's office identified two of the men as Matthew Schoenecker, 50, and Valentino Creus, 59, who both hail from the Los Angeles area. The third was identified as 44-year-old New Yorker Matthew Anthony. The three men went missing the afternoon of June 18, after they reportedly entered the water at Rattlesnake Falls in Soda Springs and did not resurface. The area is located about 40 miles west of North Lake Tahoe. The three men were part of a group of six who ventured to the falls, according to the sheriff's office. The other three people were airlifted out of the area that evening. Personnel from the sheriff's dive and search-and-rescue teams combed the area in search of the missing trio, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Technical Rescue Team. But authorities said those efforts were hindered by poor underwater visibility caused by debris and strong winds. Juan Heredia — a diver with the Stockton-based Angels Recovery Dive Team, a nonprofit that specializes in recovering drowned bodies for grieving families — discovered the trio Saturday morning. Heredia said he located Anthony's body about 45 feet underwater in the waterfall pool that leads into the North Fork American River. He found the bodies of Schoenecker and Creus together under the waterfall, at a depth of about 47 feet. Heredia said he was hired by a family friend and hiked about seven miles through rugged terrain to locate the site and the bodies. Creus, the least experienced of the trio when it came to diving, initially hesitated before jumping into the waterfall, according to Heredia. 'Big Matt [Schoenecker] tried to help Valentino, who was in trouble,' Heredia said, adding that Schoenecker was a former high school diving champion who knew the waterfall well. 'He started panicking and then the two Matts jumped in to save him, but they couldn't and they drowned.'
New York Post
24-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
NYC resident, 2 others drown after jumping into California waterfall during hike
A New Yorker and two of his friends leapt to their deaths last week when they jumped into a waterfall during a hike on a remote, treacherous trail in northern California, according to authorities. Matthew Anthony, 44, of New York City, and five other hikers set off into the woods Wednesday in Soda Springs, about three miles off Donner Pass, a 7,000-foot-high alpine trail in the northern Sierra Nevada. 3 Rough terrain and brutal conditions made the recovery effort for the bodies three hikers who died after plunging into a waterfall particularly difficult. Placer County Sheriff's Office Advertisement After hiking rough terrain for three hours, Anthony and two of his friends, Valentino Creus, 50, and Matthew Schoenecker, 50, both from Los Angeles, decided to cool off by jumping into Rattlesnake Falls, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said. The men never came out of the water after they took the plunge. The other three hikers in their group called 911 and rescue workers began a frantic search. After three days, divers recovered their bodies, police said. Advertisement 'It is with heavy hearts that we share that the bodies of the three men have been recovered,' the sheriff said in a statement. 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss.' The three victims volunteered for the International Circle of Genetic Studies, a program that connects professors of genetics and molecular biology to undergraduate and high school students to conduct studies and research in the field. 'We regret to inform you that three of our advisors passed away last Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 in an accident near San Francisco,' the organization wrote in a statement on Facebook. 'Their names are Dr. Mathew Schoenecker, Dr. Mathew Anthony and Val Creus, M.S. REQUIESCAM IN PACEM!!!! We give our sympathy to their families.' Advertisement 3 Rescue workers encountered challenging conditions during their efforts to recover the bodies of three hikers. Placer County Sheriff's Office The Sheriff's Office's dive team, Search and Rescue Units, CAL Fire's technical rescue team and California Highway Patrol's helicopter all contributed to the search. The three hikers who didn't jump were taken off the trail by a helicopter while the search continued for their friends. Rescue workers were initially confronted by powerful winds, poor visibility, debris and strong currents, limiting their search, according to the sheriff's office. Advertisement On Sunday, conditions cleared up and the search resumed. A local diver, Juan Heredia, was part of the team that found the bodies. He did four dives of almost 3 minutes each in deep, ice-cold water, he wrote in a social media post. 3 It took rescue workers days to recover the bodies of three hikers who died after plunging into a waterfall. Placer County Sheriff's Office 'We couldn't wait. I knew it could take weeks to surface,' he wrote. 'Families needed to close this chapter already.' He got the signal to go into the water at 9 p.m., he said. A sergeant told him, 'We're going to send a team to walk right now to take care of the bodies.' He described swimming against the waterfall as 'brutal.' '[It] was pushing me hard,' he wrote. 'But I wouldn't leave without those 3 souls.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
"The waterfall was brutal": bodies of 3 hikers who vanished after jumping into California falls recovered after days of searching
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The bodies of three hikers who vanished after jumping into a remote California waterfall have been recovered after days of searching. Placer County Sheriff's Office reports that a group of six men were hiking in the Soda Springs area on Wednesday, June 18 when three jumped into the water at Rattlesnake Falls and never resurfaced. The surrounding terrain is described as challenging and difficult to access, and search efforts were temporarily suspended on Thursday due to poor visibility caused by debris and strong currents. High winds also made flying conditions difficult. The sheriff's office announced that the bodies had been found on Sunday. Diver Juan Heredia posted on Facebook after helping to recover the bodies, describing how difficult the scene made the operation. "The waterfall was brutal. It kept pushing me down but I wasn't leaving without bringing those 3 souls home to their families." "Josh Robinson our team backup diver, and I hiked over 3 hours just to reach that 47-foot deep pool. I dove four times — close to 3 minutes each — freezing cold water and deep." The remaining hikers were airlifted from the scene on Wednesday evening. In Washington's Olympic National Park, search and rescue crews have been unable to recover the body of an 18-year-old hiker who was attempting to cross the river above popular Sol Duc Falls when he fell and was swept away on June 8. Before entering the water on a hike, it's important to scope out a safe entry spot and enter the water slowly to avoid being injured by hidden obstacles or swept away by strong currents. It's generally advised to stay out of waterfall areas and on the trail. You can learn more in our articles on open water safety and waterfall hiking safety. The best hiking boots: hit the trail The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails
USA Today
23-06-2025
- USA Today
3 men found dead after jumping into water near California waterfall
Three people were found dead over the weekend following a multi-day search and rescue mission at Rattlesnake Falls in California. On Wednesday, June 18, the Placer County Sheriff's Office received a report about the individuals entering the water in the Soda Springs area, according to a news release. Officials learned that the missing men were part of a hiking group when they decided to jump into Rattlesnake Falls and failed to resurface, prompting ground and aerial search efforts. The other men who were with them were evacuated via helicopter on June 19 because the area is "remote" and a "difficult trail." California Highway Patrol assisted with this rescue. Lake Tahoe: 6 people dead, 2 missing after boat capsizes 'Heartfelt condolences' Deputies said search operations continued throughout the week, but were disrupted due to weather conditions and strong currents. The Placer County Sheriff's Office announced on June 22 that "the bodies of the three men have been recovered." Their identities have not been released. USA TODAY reached out to the agency for more information. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss," the statement continued. A volunteer diver involved in the mission said in a Facebook post that he and another person had to hike for more than three hours to get to the area before diving into the "ice water" several times. "We couldn't wait. I knew it could take weeks to surface. Families needed to close this chapter already," Juan Heredia wrote, adding that they called the sheriff's office around 9 p.m. "What surprised me was the sergeant's response: 'We're going to send a team to walk right now to take care of the bodies,'" the post continued. Soda Springs is approximately 26 miles from Lake Tahoe. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
USA Today
25-05-2025
- USA Today
Video shows dramatic rescue of hikers from Tahoe National Forest
Video shows dramatic rescue of hikers from Tahoe National Forest Show Caption Hide Caption Lost hikers were airlifted to safety from a forest The Placer County Sheriff's Office rescued lost hikers from a forest in Northern California after they ran out of food. Dramatic footage shows two hikers being rescued from a Northern California forest, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office said in a May 20 Facebook post that they received a GPS distress text from the hikers near the Mumford Bar Trail in the Tahoe National Forest on May 16. The pair were out of food and had lost the trail, according to the Sheriff's Office. The hikers were advised to shelter in place overnight. A rescue effort began at first light on May 17. "Though cold and tired, both were in good condition," the Sheriff's Office said. Elise Soviar, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told CBS Sacramento that the rescue was a reminder of the need to be prepared before setting off on the trails. "There are places all across Placer County and the Sierra where you're not prepared for what you're about to encounter. So educating yourself on that, really reading up on the trails, and knowing what you're getting into before you do something is paramount," Soviar told the station.
