Matthew Anthony dies in fatal Soda Springs hiking incident
Fatal Soda Springs hiking incident death of Matthew Anthony
Authorities in Placer County, California have confirmed that 44-year-old Matthew Anthony of New York City was one of three men who died after jumping into the water near Rattlesnake Falls while hiking in Soda Springs last Wednesday.
The other victims have been identified as 50-year-old Matthew Schoenecker and 59-year-old Valentine Creus, both from Los Angeles. The trio, part of a six-person hiking group, entered the water around 3 p.m. and failed to resurface, prompting a major search and rescue operation.
Following the incident, a California Highway Patrol helicopter was used to evacuate the remaining three hikers due to the rough terrain surrounding the area. Dive teams were flown in on Thursday to begin recovery efforts.
Search operations were slowed by high winds on Friday but resumed once weather conditions improved. On Sunday morning, the bodies of all three missing hikers were recovered, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office expressed its condolences to the families, friends, and everyone affected by the tragic event. The hiking incident has deeply shaken both the local community and those connected to the victims.
Recovery teams faced difficult challenges throughout the multi-day search, relying on aerial support and specialized divers to navigate the dangerous conditions in the remote Soda Springs location.
