A tragic incident unfolded on Bear Mountain in Arizona, as a 40-year-old mother from California, identified as Zaynab Joseph, fell to her death while hiking with her husband and baby on Monday, according to local authorities.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office reported that Joseph plummeted approximately 140 feet down a steep cliff, leading to her untimely demise. Her distressing screams alerted a group of fellow hikers, who rushed to her aid upon discovering her on an embankment.
Despite efforts to assist her, Joseph succumbed to her injuries shortly after being found. Her husband and their infant were subsequently airlifted from the mountain, while first responders retrieved Joseph’s body.
The family, visiting from California, had been staying at an Airbnb in Sedona at the time of the tragedy, as per authorities.
An investigation into the incident is underway, with sheriff officials conducting interviews with hikers who were on the mountain. The cause of the fatal fall remains under scrutiny.
Describing Joseph as having a “heart of gold,” her sister, Farwa Zaidi, expressed the profound grief their family is experiencing, particularly her husband and their three young children, in a Facebook post cited by People.com.
Bear Mountain, known for its challenging terrain, is categorized as a “strenuous hike” by the US Forest Service due to its mostly unshaded, steep, and difficult paths. The specific location where Joseph and her family were hiking before the tragic accident remains unclear.