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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Sara Odeen-Isbister

Mystery of missing hiker found dead down 80ft waterfall after cries for help heard

A missing hiker was found dead at the bottom of an 80ft waterfall after cries for help were heard by people nearby.

Robert Carey Jr's family had reported the 33-year-old missing on Saturday when he failed to return after a hike to San Gorgonio Peak in California's Barnardino Mountains.

Police say people in the area had heard someone yelling for help.

On Saturday evening, police helicopter crew found him unresponsive at the bottom of Base Falls, in an area notorious as a danger zone for hikers.

Due the risk of a nighttime rescue, the body wasn't recovered until Sunday morning.

It is thought the Californian died of traumatic injuries caused by falling from the top of the 80ft falls.

“The Carey family expressed their extreme gratitude with the heroic efforts displayed by all involved emergency personnel,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

Mercury News, who reported the death, described the trail from Forest Falls, where he started his hike, to the 11,503-foot San Gorgonio summit as arduous.

Carey’s family said he was an experienced hiker but was not familiar with that trail.

Mercury News added: "Forest Falls, a small community 20 miles east of San Bernardino, also draws many inexperienced hikers for the walk to Big Falls, a 500-foot series of cascades. Though that trail is short and considered easy, emergency rescues are frequent for people who get in trouble trying to climb the rocks or cross the creek."

Another trail is currently shut due to safety concerns and will open later this month, while a further trail was shut temporarily in 2015 after 57 injuries and 45 rescues had been reported in less than a year.

Meanwhile in the Grand Canyon, hiker Margaret Osswald fell 20 feet to her death on April 4 this year while on a boating trip along the Colorado River.

The incident happened close to the campsite where Osswald was staying at.

According to the Arizona Republic, Friends attempted CPR following her fall, but couldn't save her.

And over in New Hampshire husband and wife hikers Stephen and Djeswende Reid, who went missing over the Easter weekend, were found shot dead in a forest on April 22.

Family and friends had not heard from the pair since Monday, when they went for a walk in the woods.

Police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of their bodies.

Concord Police Deputy Chief John Thomas added: "This is a tragedy, something that came out of nowhere and we are doing our due diligence investing all of our resources, working with our state and local partners to bring this case to a successful resolution."

Officers have not revealed whether they believe it was a targeted attack, CBS News reports.

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