A hiker was found dead Saturday night after attempting to search for friends who became lost on a trail in Riverside County, according to sheriff’s officials.
Deputies responded around 8:26 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a missing hiker in a mountainous area near State Route 74 in Anza. Authorities said a hiking group had raised concerns when several members failed to return from an early-morning outing.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reported that four hikers from the group were initially considered overdue. When they did not return, another member of the group went out alone to look for them. That individual was later identified as the deceased.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit were dispatched to assist with the search. Using aerial resources, the aviation unit located the four missing hikers and safely hoisted them from the remote terrain. They were transported to the Lake Hemet Mountain Station, where they were medically evaluated.
Search efforts then continued for the additional hiker who had gone out on their own. Authorities said that individual was later found near the bottom of an approximately 150-foot rock face. Rescue personnel reached the hiker and pronounced them dead at the scene.
The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau responded and is handling the investigation. The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Francisco Lopez at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station at 951-791-3400.