Sedona AZ (December 1, 2014) – On November 27, 2014, a 61-year-old Tucson woman suffered a fatal fall while hiking near the Devil’s Bridge outside Sedona in the Coconino National Forest.
The Sedona Fire Department was called out around 4PM on November 27, 2014, regarding an injured hiker that had fallen on what is known as the “stairs’ located next to Devil’s Bridge. This area is composed of natural red rock with some of the rock stacked in such a way to form a very steep staircase. When fire personnel arrived about 30 minutes after the call, they found the victim with her husband and 2 other persons, who identified themselves as doctors, attempting to revive her. The victim had suffered head trauma from a fall estimated at 8 feet.
The victim’s husband told deputies he was hiking with his wife and son and when they reached the Devil’s Bridge, his wife decided not to venture out on the bridge. She told them she would begin hiking back ahead of them and left towards the stairs. According to the victim’s husband, he and his son began hiking back only 30 seconds after she left. As both were hiking down the stairs, they discovered she had fallen. Two people who identified themselves as doctors were next to her and had started CPR. The doctors alternated resusciation efforts until the arrival of fire personnel who pronounced her deceased.
Sedona fire crews transported the victim down the mountain by hiking to the trailhead and releasing the body to the custody of the Yavapai County Medical Examiner.
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website: www.ycsoaz.gov