Three Hikers Died After Jumping Into California Waterfall As Police Share Heartbreaking Update

Authorities have shared a heartbreaking update after an intense search for three hikers who were reported missing earlier this week.

The group of men had set out on a hike on Wednesday, June 18, when reports came in that three of them had entered the water in the Soda Springs area and didn’t come back up.

They had jumped into the water at Rattlesnake Falls in California and, sadly, none of them were seen resurfacing after that moment.

The three individuals who jumped were part of a bigger hiking group. The rest of the party, who stayed behind, had to be rescued by helicopter on June 19 due to how remote and rugged the area was, according to a report from USA Today.

In a statement released that Wednesday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said: "Shortly before 3 p.m. this afternoon, the Placer County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of Heath Falls in Soda Springs following reports that three individuals entered the water and did not resurface."

They also explained: "Multiple resources have been deployed for the search, including the Sheriff's Office Dive Team, Search and Rescue units, CAL FIRE's Technical Rescue Team, and CHP's helicopter."

Emergency responders banded together to conduct the search Facebook/Placer County Sheriff's Office

"The terrain is extremely remote and difficult to access, making rescue efforts especially challenging."

Since the search began, law enforcement teams have been providing regular updates. On Thursday, June 19, they announced that bad weather had forced them to temporarily pause their efforts.

The search resumed the following day, Friday, June 20, but only in a limited way due to ongoing poor conditions. Authorities added: "Over the next few days, and as wind conditions allow, aerial surveys of the location and overall area will be conducted."

"Once conditions improve, anticipated by Sunday, a coordinated plan is in place to return to the site with enhanced equipment and support from mutual aid partners to further the search efforts."

The police were alerted about 3 men jumping into the water on Wednesday Facebook/Placer County Sheriff's Office

It wasn’t until Sunday, June 22, that officials confirmed the tragic news that all three bodies had been recovered from the water.

The Sheriff's Office wrote: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss."

The victims have now been identified as Matthew Schoenecker and Valentino Creus, both from Los Angeles, and Matthew Anthony, who was from New York City.

Juan Heredia, one of the volunteer divers who took part in the search and recovery effort, posted a video on Facebook showing the tough conditions the divers faced while working to retrieve the men’s bodies from the fast-moving water.

"3 beautiful souls have been recovered they can now be laid to rest in peace and their families have been given closure and begin their healing process." he wrote in the post. "The waterfall was brutal. It kept pushing me down… but I wasn't leaving without bringing those 3 souls home to their families."

Heredia also mentioned that it took him and the rest of the team more than three hours to hike all the way to the site where they were searching.

He also shared that without their intervention, the bodies might not have surfaced for several weeks, given the conditions they were dealing with.