Mother falls 140 feet to her death while hiking with family
SEDONA, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - A hike in Sedona, Arizona ended in tragedy when a woman fell off a cliff and died.
Zaynab Joseph was hiking the Bear Mountain trail in the Coconino National Forest with her husband and 1-year-old child Monday. According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the 40-year-old then, for an unknown reason, fell off the 140-foot cliff.
A group of hikers nearby heard yelling and went to help. As others called 911, one person hiked down the embankment and found Joseph still breathing. However, she died shortly after.
The sheriff’s office reported Sedona Fire arrived at the scene and confirmed Joseph’s death.
Her husband and child were flown off Bear Mountain in a Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter as search and rescue volunteers and crews with the Department of Public Safety recovered Joseph’s body.
The sheriff’s office, search and rescue team and Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter all assisted.
The sheriff’s office reported the family was visiting from California and had rented an Airbnb in Sedona.
They also reported investigators talked with hikers as they were coming off the mountain and that the sheriff’s office is looking into the events that led to Joseph’s death.
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