According to the National Park Service, a California teacher was found dead the day after he was reported missing in Sequoia National Park.
Drew Hall, a 36-year-old boy basketball coach at Visalia’s Golden West High School, was reported missing to friends and family late Saturday after splitting with his group earlier that day, intent on meeting with him earlier that day, according to a news release from the National Park Service. The hall was said to cross particularly rough terrain during the hike, but was also described as “fit and active” by the Park Rangers.
The next morning, the Park Rangers and the support agency were dispatched to search the hall, which had not yet been heard. According to the release, he was found to have been killed by friends and family under Sawtooth Peak.
“Our mind goes to hiker family and friends. We encourage everyone to take extra precautions and stay vigilant while enjoying the beauty of these national parks. Safety must always come first.”
It is the fifth deadly, and according to the release, it is the 60th search and rescue effort that Sequoia and Kings emergency personnel have responded this year. Five of these search and rescues took place last weekend and a release was added.
Authorities did not immediately reveal why it caused Hall’s death.
The National Park Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the frequency of these incidents at the park. However, law firm Panish Shea & Rabipudi found in an analysis published last year that Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park reported 30 deaths per 10 million park visitors between 2007 and 2024.
“It was a challenging year for the search and rescue team,” Fox said.
