Hiker Killed in Fall, 3 Rescued From Trail in Malibu Creek Park

A 19-year-old man hiking up a narrow trail with four other people in a remote part of Malibu Creek State Park was killed Wednesday when he fell 250 feet, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Three of his companions were trapped on the steep trail and had to be rescued by a county Fire Department helicopter, Deputy Stephen Lee said. The rescuers were summoned after the other hiker made his way down the mountain and called for help, Lee said.

None of the other hikers was injured, he said. The identities of the hikers were not released.

Lee said the victim and his four companions were hiking up Goat Butte Mountain, adjacent to Century Lake in the middle of the large rural park, when the 19-year-old lost his footing and fell down the sheer face of the mountain about 5:40 p.m. He fell to a grassy area below and apparently died in the fall.

Lee said the group was on the highest peak in the state park, which is about two miles south of the Ventura Freeway near Agoura.

The hiker who managed to climb down the mountain contacted park rangers, who called firefighters and sheriff’s deputies, Lee said.

The 12-member Malibu Mountain Rescue Team, part of the Sheriff’s Department, rappelled down the mountain to find the dead hiker, he said.

A sheriff’s deputy at the scene said four other hikers attempted to assist the first group after hearing their shouts for help, but also became trapped and had to be rescued by the sheriff’s team.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office still had not removed the body by late Wednesday night.