Southern California hiker dies in fall down ice chute

ANGELUS OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Southern California authorities have recovered the body of a 56-year-old hiker who apparently slipped down an ice chute in the San Bernardino National Forest.

The weekend accident occurred along the South Fork Trail near Jenks Lake.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department says the victim’s son called for help around 4 p.m. Saturday after hiking two hours to find a cell phone signal.

Sheriff’s helicopter crews searched through the night but were unable to find the victims, so members of the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team hiked into the area and found the man dead in a ravine around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Due to ice and snow conditions, the victim’s body was hoisted out of the location by a helicopter and taken to the coroner’s office for investigation.