People Rescued - Jacumba Mountains 

July 19, 2023 - San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that on Sunday, July 16 just before 2:30 p.m., Sheriff's Rural Command responded to two separate calls of groups of people who had fallen ill due to the hot weather near Goat Canyon Trestle in a remote area of the Jacumba Mountains.

Due to the groups being in areas with poor cell phone reception, the Sheriff's Department was unable to immediately pinpoint their general location. The initial 9-1-1 call came in at approximately 2:24 p.m. Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatchers had to call that phone number several times in order to find a location.

As soon as a general location was determined at approximately 2:33 p.m., Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the area. Deputies also requested assistance from Sheriff's ASTREA (helicopter unit), 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.

Meantime, 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.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department