Latest news with #RattlesnakeFalls
CBS News
35 minutes ago
- CBS News
Bodies recovered of 3 hikers who went missing in water near Rattlesnake Falls
Authorities have now identified the three people who went missing in the water near Rattlesnake Falls in Soda Springs. The Placer County Sheriff's Office said a group of six men was hiking in the area. One of the people in the group called 911 shortly before 3 p.m. to report that three others went into the water and never resurfaced. A California Highway Patrol helicopter and other resources, including sheriff's office dive and search teams, were deployed to the remote area to assist with the search. Initially, the sheriff's office said the search was happening in the area near Heath Falls. Deputies later said the men were believed to have jumped into the water at Rattlesnake Falls. Thursday, the sheriff's office stated that a dive team was flown to the area to help with search efforts. The search operations were suspended on Thursday due to poor underwater visibility caused by debris and strong currents, the sheriff's office said. Increasing winds also made it unsafe to fly in. On Friday, deputies said the search will be in a limited but continuous fashion. The bodies of the three hikers were found on Sunday, the Sheriff's Office said. According to the Placer County Sheriff's Office, the three people whose bodies have been recovered have been identified as 59-year-old Los Angeles resident Valentino Creus, 50-year-old Los Angeles resident Matthew Schoenecker, and 44-year-old New York City resident Matthew Anthony. The sheriff's office noted that the location is remote and takes about a three-hour hike to reach.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Horrific triple tragedy after three hikers jumped into stunning California waterfall
Bodies have been recovered after three men jumped into a California waterfall and never resurfaced. On June 18, six outdoorsmen set out on a hike several miles into the woods near Soda Springs. They embarked on what officials have said was an 'extremely remote and difficult to access' trail. During the journey, three of the hikers plunged into Rattlesnake Falls and did not resurface, completely vanishing beneath the freezing water. Shortly before 3 pm, the remaining hikers contacted local authorities for help. After four days of searching, with major setbacks thanks to weather and wind conditions, the missing bodies were recovered and the Placer County Sheriff's Office confirmed their deaths. 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the bodies of the three men have been recovered,' they said in their statement. 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss.' The rescue required California Highway Patrol Helicopters to help evacuate the remaining three men from the rough terrain. The location of which 'made rescue efforts especially challenging,' according to the Place County Sheriff's Office. The remote area required a three hour hike to reach. Authorities sent the Sheriff's Office's dive team, Search and Rescue Units, CAL Fire's technical rescue team and California Highway Patrol's helicopter. A helicopter ushered the three survivors back to safety on Wednesday evening, but the vanished hikers were left unfound for days after. To make matters worse, search efforts were tampered by gusty winds and low visibility, drawing out the process even further. According to the Sheriff's Office, searching operations were suspended Thursday 'due to poor underwater visibility caused by debris and strong currents.' They said: 'Additionally, increasing winds this afternoon have made flying conditions unsafe. Dive team members have been flown back to the command post to conclude efforts for the evening.' Then, on Friday, visibility continued to be poor. The Sheriff's Office wrote: 'The search efforts will continue in a limited but ongoing capacity. Over the next few days, and as wind conditions allow, aerial surveys of the location and overall area will be conducted. 'Once conditions improve, anticipated by Sunday, a coordinated plan is in place to return to the site with enhanced equipment and support from mutual aid partners to further the search efforts.' By Sunday, conditions finally cleared and the team was able to locate the bodies. By then they were lifeless in the frigid water. Placer County has advised against plunging into local ponds, lakes, and waterfalls for fear of incidents like this one. According to their website, melting snow in northern California can leave water temperatures 'dangerously cold' even as the seasons change. Placer County has warned individuals wishing to enjoy waterways to take extra precaution, regardless of the season. Jumping into frigid waters could cause cold shock which results in 'a rapid loss of breathing control, increased heart rate and a gasp reflex.' Or hypothermia, a 'dangerous drop in body temperature that can lead to unconsciousness and even death.' Both of these side effects make it more difficult to swim or breathe, leading to drowning in low-temperature waterways like Rattlesnake Falls. The Placer County Sheriff's department has yet to release the names of the individuals or any further details on the incident.
New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Bodies of 3 Hikers Who Jumped in Water Near Lake Tahoe Are Recovered
The bodies of three hikers who disappeared after they jumped into the water at Rattlesnake Falls in Soda Springs, Calif., last week were found on Sunday, the authorities said, ending a multiday search that had been hampered by rough terrain and bad conditions. The men, who had been hiking with three other people, jumped into the water on Wednesday, but did not resurface, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted online. The three other hikers used a satellite phone to text 9-1-1 for help around 3 p.m. after the men did not reappear, Elise Soviar, the sheriff's office communication manager, said on Monday. The area, about 30 miles from Lake Tahoe, has a 'challenging terrain' and is 'located several miles in on a steep and difficult hiking trail,' the sheriff's office said. A California Highway Patrol helicopter was used to evacuate the three remaining hikers on Wednesday evening. Several agencies helped with the search for the men who had jumped in the water, including the sheriff's office dive team, search and rescue units, and Cal Fire's Technical Rescue Team. The water in the region is 'always cold and hazardous this time of year due to snowpack melt,' said Ms. Soviar from the sheriff's office. Rescue efforts were suspended on Thursday afternoon because debris and strong currents caused poor underwater visibility, the sheriff's office said, noting that increasing winds had also made flying conditions unsafe. The search efforts continued on Friday and Saturday but were limited because of the wind conditions, according to the sheriff's office. With the conditions improving Sunday, the office proceeded with a coordinated plan to return to the area where the men jumped and continued the search using enhanced equipment and support from search partners. That morning, the authorities found the bodies of the three men. The sheriff's office identified the men on Monday as Matthew Schoenecker, 50, of Los Angeles; Valentino Creus, 59, also of Los Angeles; and Matthew Anthony, 44, of New York City. 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,' the sheriff's office said. It is hard to quantify how frequently hikers need to be rescued from this remote and isolated area, Ms. Soviar said, but she noted that this was the only rescue effort there in the past year.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
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 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@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 men dead after jumping into water at California's Rattlesnake Falls
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Soda Springs hikers recovered days after not resurfacing in Rattlesnake Falls
The three hikers who went missing after jumping into the water while on a hike in Soda Springs were recovered on Sunday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the bodies of the three men have been recovered," the Sheriff's Office said. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss. A group of six men were hiking near Rattlesnake Falls on Wednesday when three of them jumped into the water, the Sheriff's Office said. Around 3 p.m., one of the men called 911 and said that the three men never resurfaced. The three remaining hikers were flown out of the area Wednesday evening due to the challenging terrain in the area. Search and rescue teams were sent to the area, and the Sheriff's Office said the dive team had to be flown in to help. The search was suspended on Thursday due to underwater visibility issues and winds making it difficult for the helicopter to fly in. The search was then scaled back on Friday. On Sunday, the Sheriff's Office said three bodies were recovered.
