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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A dozen student-athletes and three coaches from Downey High School on a hiking trip on Mount Baldy in San Bernardino County had to be rescued by search-and-rescue teams, including two teens who were located this morning after spending the night on the mountain, authorities said.
According to a statement released late this morning by the Downey Unified School District, the Downey High athletes and coaches took a group hike up Mount Baldy on Monday, and 10 of them were brought to safety on Monday evening, but two teens remained unaccounted for until this morning.
“We were extremely distraught to find out that a group of students and coaches accompanying them became stuck on the mountain near sundown,'' the statement reads. “We have been working closely with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's (Department) from the moment we were made aware and throughout the overnight hours. Thankfully this first group of 10 students and three coaches were rescued last night and reunited with their families. We were further made aware that search-and-rescue were still actively looking for two remaining students who were unaccounted for.''
About 9 this morning, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department tweeted: “The search for two missing teens on Mt. Baldy has concluded. The male and female were found by Search & Rescue members and 40-King is airlifting both hikers off the mountain. Both hikers appear to be uninjured.''
According to the school district, the coaches remained on scene overnight, and district staffers arrived at the site Tuesday morning “to provide additional support to our students and their families.''
“We will be conducting a thorough review into this situation and take appropriate steps to prevent this type of incident from happening in the future,'' the school district statement said.
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