MT. SHASTA, Calif. — Despite a multi-agency rescue attempt, a climber died over the weekend after falling on Mt. Shasta, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office received a 911 call on Saturday just before 7 p.m. A woman said that she had been climbing on Mt. Shasta with her boyfriend when he fell down an embankment, sustaining injuries. The climber reported that she was on the north face of the mountain, at roughly 11,000 feet.
"Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue coordinator Deputy Mike Burns immediately began organizing a rescue effort including a Blackhawk helicopter from the California Army National Guard," the agency said.
The helicopter crew found the caller, identified as Chelsey Klein of San Diego, around 11 p.m. — airlifting her off the mountain and away to a hospital for treatment. They were unable to find the man, later identified as 35-year-old Jeffrey Sutton, also of San Diego.
Two climbing rangers from the U.S. Forest Service were brought up to the area to continue the search, followed by ground rescue teams from the Forest Service, Siskiyou County Search & Rescue, and Jackson County Search & Rescue. They found Sutton's body around 8 a.m. the following morning.
"On behalf of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Sutton," said Undersheriff Karl Houtman.
