Authorities have confirmed the recovery of three hikers who went missing after jumping into Rattlesnake Falls in Soda Springs, California, on June 18. The victims have been identified as Matthew Schoenecker and Valentino Creus from Los Angeles, and Matthew Anthony from New York City. The three men were part of a larger hiking group exploring the remote and rugged terrain near Soda Springs when they entered the water at Rattlesnake Falls and did not resurface.
The rest of their group, stranded in difficult-to-access areas, had to be airlifted to safety. The search and rescue operation was challenging due to the rough landscape and adverse weather conditions. Multiple agencies joined forces, including the Placer County Sheriff’s Dive Team, CAL FIRE’s Technical Rescue Team, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter unit.
The search was temporarily halted because of hazardous weather but resumed and intensified over the following days. By June 22, authorities successfully recovered the bodies…
