The bodies of a California couple were recovered from a waterfall near Yosemite National Park over the weekend.
The bodies were identified as Monica Ledesma and James Hall. They were discovered near Angel Falls not far from Yosemite National Park in central California.
Rescuers discovered Ledesma’s body on Wednesday, June 19, after someone called about an unresponsive woman in the water not far from Bass Lake.
Some of Hall’s belongings were also discovered near Ledesma’s body. His body was eventually recovered later that day. The couple was both from Madera County.
Local affiliate KMPH reported that while the rescuers were on the scene, another call came in with a report that a woman was injured at Lewis Creek. They were able to find her and she had non-life-threatening injuries. She had slipped and twisted her ankle while on a hike.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who were lost at Angel Falls today,” Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said in a statement.
“We would like to thank our allied partners for their outstanding support and response to today’s events, whose simultaneous occurrence stretched resources. I applaud the efforts of the rescue and recovery teams, who performed their duties diligently and respectfully.”
O’Hara then added, “Monica and James were important here. They were important because they were family. Not related except by heart. Kindness is something that run through all of them and they were examples.”
Although there weren’t further details about how the couple died, the GoFundMe for Hall stated he died a hero while trying to save Ledesma. “Unfortunately, they both were taken from us,” the GoFundMe revealed.
For Ledesma’s GoFundMe page, it was revealed that she left a daughter and son behind.
Group of Tourists in Yosemite National Park Breaks Rules By Jumping Barrier On Top of Vernal Falls
Nearly half an hour away from where the couple’s bodies were discovered, a couple of tourists in Yosemite National Park jumped barriers on top of Vernal Falls.
A video by Madison Hopkins shows three men who jumped the barrier. One of the men posed for photos right on the edge of the falls while another man took the pictures. Vernal Falls notably has a 317-foot drop.
The Yosemite National Park warns people not to hop over the barriers.
“At the top of Vernal Fall, you can experience jaw-dropping views straight down the length of the 317-foot waterfall (please don’t cross the railings and use extreme caution while you’re near any flowing water or wet rock in this area).”
The men have not been identified.