The bodies of a man and woman who went missing near Yosemite National Park in California were recovered by emergency responders on Wednesday.
Search and rescue teams found the bodies of Monica Ledesma, 34, and James Hall, 35, near Angel Falls. Fox 11 report. Responding to a report of an unconscious woman in the water near Bass Lake, emergency personnel found Ledesma's body and some of Hall's belongings. (Related story: Tennessee authorities discover bodies of father and 9-year-old son after jet ski crashes into barge, killing them)
California couple's bodies found in waterfall near Yosemite: 'They were special people' https://t.co/Bup7ObUjkU
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 23, 2024
“James died a hero trying to save his girlfriend Monica,” Hall's family said on the fundraising page. “Sadly, they have both been taken from us.”
According to the media, Hall and Ledesma, whose body was found nearby, were in a relationship and Hall had been hailed as a hero for trying to save his girlfriend who had fallen over the falls.
A fundraising page set up for Ms Hall's family said: “James died a hero trying to save his girlfriend Monica. Sadly, they were both taken from us.”
A vigil was held for the couple, drawing dozens of friends, colleagues and family. KFSN Television report.
“This may be the hardest day of our lives,” Hall's mother told KFSN-TV, “but we're here for a reason and I think it's in the name of love.”
“They were kind and caring and not only did they take care of us old people, but they also took care of the young people,” Nancy O'Hara, a friend of the couple, told the outlet. “Their sense of humor, which is something you really need in life, especially when you get older.”
Ledesma's mother told KFSN-TV that her daughter has two other children, an 8-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter.
The Madera County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that the water near Angel Falls is “very fast-flowing and very cold…When going to rivers and streams, always take precautions by wearing a life jacket, bringing a life vest with you and following river and stream closures.”
Police did not disclose the cause of the couple's deaths, according to Fox News Digital.
