By Admin 
Authorities have confirmed the recovery of three hikers who went missing after jumping into Rattlesnake Falls in California last week.
The men, identified as Matthew Schoenecker of Los Angeles, Matthew Anthony of New York City, and Valentino Creus, also of Los Angeles, were part of a larger hiking group exploring the remote Soda Springs area on Wednesday, June 18. According to reports, the three entered the water at Rattlesnake Falls and failed to resurface.
The rest of the group, stranded in the difficult terrain, had to be rescued by helicopter the following day.
Placer County Sheriff’s Office responded to the initial emergency call around 3 p.m. on Wednesday and immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation. Multiple agencies were involved, including the Sheriff’s Dive Team, CAL FIRE’s Technical Rescue Team, and a CHP helicopter unit.
“This is an extremely remote and rugged area, which has made rescue efforts especially challenging,” officials said in a statement at the time.
Poor weather and hazardous conditions forced a temporary suspension of the search on Thursday, but limited operations resumed on Friday. A full-scale search resumed Sunday, June 22, when conditions improved enough to allow for enhanced equipment and support from mutual aid partners, according to USA Today.
That same day, the sheriff’s office confirmed the recovery of all three bodies.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” the department shared in a public statement.
One of the volunteer divers, Juan Heredia, shared a powerful account of the recovery efforts in a Facebook post. He described the treacherous hike, over three hours, to reach the falls, and the relentless force of the water as he dove to locate the bodies.
“The waterfall was brutal. It kept pushing me down… but I wasn’t leaving without bringing those three souls home to their families,” Heredia wrote.
He added that without their intervention, the bodies may not have surfaced for weeks. “Three beautiful souls have been recovered. They can now be laid to rest, and their families can begin to heal.”
The tragedy has left a deep mark on those involved, and law enforcement, volunteers, and local residents alike continue to mourn the loss of the three young men.