Tim Staples Passed Away | Cause of Death:
Tim Staples died on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at about 1 p.m. after a fall. He passed away tragically, leaving his friends and families with broken hearts.
It was such a hurtful and devastating fall. DeadDeath found out about Staples death through a Twitter post by San Bernardino County.
He was a volunteer search and rescue team member. Statement on his death reads below.
“It is with an incredibly heavy heart that West Valley reports the passing of one of our own. Tim Staples passed away after a horrible fall that occurred during the active search in Mt. Baldy. We ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
It is with an incredibly heavy heart that West Valley reports the passing of one of our own. Tim Staples passed away after a horrible fall that occurred during the active search in Mt. Baldy. We ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. https://t.co/EHBgMjB2Vu
— West Valley SAR (@WestValleySAR) December 15, 2019
On Saturday, December 14, 2019, at approximately 1:00 p.m. a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Search and Rescue team member radioed and advised he was separated from his partner, Timothy Staples. Around 1:30 p.m., a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter responded to search for the team members.
The helicopter located Staples unresponsive in an area of ice and snow. A medic was lowered to Staples and unfortunately, he was discovered deceased. Staples was hoisted and transported from the wilderness. The surviving team member was later hoisted from the mountain and returned to the command post.
Staples and his partner were part of the ongoing search efforts to locate missing hiker Sree Mokkapati. Staples was one of the 126 people working in 23 teams searching large sections of Mt. Baldy. He was a dedicated volunteer and a 9-year veteran with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Search and Rescue Team assigned to the West Valley Search and Rescue Unit.
Investigators are responding to the location to conduct interviews and review the scene for information that can help identify what occurred. This investigation is ongoing, and specifics details are unavailable. At this time, all remaining search teams are being recalled from the mountain.
The initial search operation for Mr. Mokkapati has been suspended and search operations will be reevaluated. The department would like to thank all the allied agencies for their assistance during this difficult search.