A MAN had to be rescued after traveling to a California hiking trail to investigate the “odd” deaths of a young family of three and their dog.
The unidentified tourist traveled from Michigan to Sierra National Forest to do research on the deaths of Ellen Chung, her husband, Jonathan Gerrish, and their one-year-old daughter, Miiju.
A tourist attempted to investigate how a young family of three died on a California hiking trail[/caption]
A Michigan man had to be rescued after traveling on a closed hiking trail to learn more about the Chung-Gerrish family deaths[/caption]
The family’s dog, Oski, also died during the family’s hike last August in a case that left law enforcement scratching their heads.
Several theories were posed on how the family died, including carbon monoxide poisoning to toxic algae before it was eventually revealed the family succumbed to extreme heat and dehydration on the trail.
The tourist traveled to the Hites Cove/Savage Lundy trail on June 28, said authorities and hiked in a closed area.
Officials said he told someone that he found the official explanations of the family’s deaths “odd” and wanted to personally investigate what happened himself.
CHUNG-GERRISH FAMILY MYSTERY
However, the following day, the tourist’s rented vehicle was still parked at the trail entrance, prompting people to contact the sheriff’s office.
A search and rescue mission was launched to find the missing tourist, according to a press release from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office.
The tourist was happy to be rescued, said officials, however, complained about having to spend the night and being unable to find the part of the trail he was looking for.
Officials said he tried calling 911 multiple times but was unable to get a signal and he became concerned about algae after drinking water from the river.
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He was treated for “badly blistered feet and dehydration” before driving off against medical advice.
Sheriff Jeremy Briese expressed his outrage in a statement over what happened with the tourist.
“It is hard not to be angry about this particular rescue mission. I want people to come here and enjoy all the amazing nature Mariposa county has to offer,” he said.
“To have someone purposely put themselves in danger, using vital resources and potentially putting the safety of our staff in danger all to try and prove us wrong, is maddening and quite frankly sickening.”
The public has been advised to be cautious in the area as it has no cellphone reception and is susceptible to extreme heat.
On the day the Chung-Gerrish family died, temperatures were as high as 109 degrees and much of the trail offers little shade.
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It was determined the family did not bring enough water for the hike, according to officials.
Briese has said the circumstances of the deaths were strange but said his office was confident in the outcome of their findings.
The man believed the family’s official death from extreme heat was ‘odd’ and wanted to learn more[/caption]
