A Madera County couple was found dead in Angel Falls last week, prompting authorities to remind summer hikers of the dangers of whitewater during the summer thaw.
Monica Ledesma and James Hall, both 35, were found by the Madera County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday after deputies received a report of an unconscious woman in the water near Angel Falls.
The agents first found Ledesma, then “located elements that led them to believe that an adult man could also be missing.” Hall was later found.
Hall's family said on GoFundMe that they were trying to save Ledesma when she died.
“James died a hero trying to save his girlfriend Monica,” they wrote. “Unfortunately, they were both taken from us.”
Officials said fast-moving water can be dangerous even when close to civilization.
“With places like Angel Falls that are close to parking lots and trails, hikers often have a false sense of security about the level of danger that exists,” the sheriff's office said in a statement. “When walking through water, special caution should be taken. Rocks can be extremely slippery even when not wet. “A missed step can result in serious injury or death.”
The water at Angel Falls is “extremely fast and deadly cold,” officials said.
While officers were searching for the couple, another report came in of a woman with a possible broken leg in Lewis Creek, authorities said.
The woman was found with a sprained ankle she suffered while walking. They took her out on a stretcher.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those lost today at Angel Falls,” said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue. “We would like to thank our allied partners for their excellent support and response to today's events, the simultaneous occurrence of which required resources. “I applaud the efforts of the rescue and recovery teams, who carried out their duties with diligence and respect.”
Ledesma's family described her as “a loving mother, sister and daughter who left behind a daughter and a son,” in a GoFundMe seeking to raise funds for her funeral.
