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A California mountain biker died after an encounter with a rattlesnake in a nature preserve led to a month-long hospitalization.
Julian Enrique Hernandez, 25, of Costa Mesa, died March 4, according to the Orange County Coroner's Office.
The initial emergency took place on February 1 around 11 a.m. local time at the Quail Hill Trailhead, a popular recreation spot near the Quail Hill Community Center.
The Irvine Police Department confirmed that Hernandez was riding a mountain bike when he was bitten by a rattlesnake. The exact circumstances of how the bite occurred are still unclear.
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Julián Enrique Hernández, a 25-year-old Costa Mesa resident, died after suffering a rattlesnake bite during a mountain biking incident in February at the Quail Hill Trailhead near Irvine, California. (GoFundMe)
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) sent a crew to the scene and Hernandez was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
He remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for more than 30 days.
A timber rattlesnake, common in South Georgia, sits in the sun at Okefenokee State Park on March 15, 2024, in Folkston, Georgia. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
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According to a verified GoFundMe page set up by his brother, the family remained hopeful during the stay, although they noted that his recovery was “expected to take much longer than anticipated.”
“Julián was 25 years old. He was strong and healthy,” his family wrote on GoFundMe. “He was alive when he arrived at the hospital. His entire family was there, defending him every step of the way. Julian did not survive.”
Following the 25-year-old's death, the Hernandez family told CBS News Los Angeles via text message that they had initiated an independent third-party autopsy. The family declined on-camera interviews but described Julian as a “deeply loved son, brother, boyfriend and friend.”
Mountain biker Julián Enrique Hernández, 25, died of complications from a rattlesnake bite after 30 days in the ICU. (GoFundMe)
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Deaths from rattlesnake bites remain statistically rare in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, and only about five cases result in death.
Local officials continue to urge trail users in Quail Hill and surrounding Irvine parks to remain vigilant as warmer weather increases snake activity.
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Irvine Police and OCFA recommend:
Stay on designated paths.
Keep a distance of at least 10 feet from any snake you encounter.
Wear protective equipment and avoid the use of headphones to ensure that audible warnings (the “rattle”) can be heard.
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