A 40-year-old woman died Sunday after falling from a 140-foot cliff on Bear Mountain while hiking with her family.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Zaynad Joseph was hiking with her husband and one-year-old child when she fell down the cliff. A group of hikers stopped after hearing yelling and discovered that the woman was seriously injured. While members of the group called 911, one hiked down the embankment and found that the victim was still breathing, but she died soon after rescuers arrived.
Sedona Fire was first on scene and confirmed Joseph had died. A DPS Ranger helicopter assisted in airlifting the husband and child from the mountain and recovering Joseph’s body with the help of YCSO search and rescue volunteers. The family, who are residents of California, were renting an Airbnb in Sedona.
YCSO conducted multiple interviews of hikers coming off the mountain, and the cause of the incident is still under investigation. YCSO asks that anyone with information or who witnessed the tragedy, to contact YCSO at 928-771-3260.
****Photo courtesy of the Joseph Family.