A Madera County couple was found dead in Angel Falls last week, prompting officials to remind summer hikers of the dangers of fast-moving water during summer snowmelt.
Monica Ledesma and James Hall, both 35, were found Wednesday by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office after deputies received a report of a woman unconscious in the water near Angel Falls .
Deputies first found Ledesma, then they “located items that led them to believe an adult male may also be missing.” Hall was later found.
Hall’s family said in a GoFundMe that he was 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.”
Authorities have said whitewater can be dangerous even when close to civilization.
“With places like Angel Falls being 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 hiking near water, extra precautions should be taken. Rocks can be extremely slippery even when not wet. A missed step can result in serious injury or even death.
The water in Angel Falls is “extremely fast and extremely cold,” authorities 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 twisted ankle she suffered while hiking. She was carried out on a stretcher.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who went missing in Angel Falls today,” Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said. “We would like to thank our allied partners for their exceptional support and response to today’s events, the simultaneous occurrence of which has placed a strain on resources. I applaud the efforts of the rescue and recovery teams, who carried out their tasks diligently and respectfully.
Ledesma’s family described her as “a loving mother, sister and daughter who left behind a daughter and son,” in a GoFundMe seeking to raise money for her funeral.
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