mt._whitneyA 58-year-old resident of Newhall, California, died Monday night on the Mount Whitney Trail.

Every year, people from around the world come to Inyo County to hike to the top this popular highpoint. Fatalities on the strenuous Mt. Whitney trail do happen, due to falls, and sometime medical conditions.

In this case, it appears a medical condition contributed to the fatality. Sheriff officials say that at about 11:40 pm Monday night, the Inyo County Search and Rescue team was called out to assist a collapsed man who was located about one mile above the trailhead at Whitney Portal. CPR was reportedly in progress when the SAR team was called out.

Inyo SAR, along with Lone Pine Fire, ambulance crew members, and other hikers, carried the man to the trailhead, where he was turned over to the Inyo County Coroner.

Sheriff officials say that it was unclear if the victim was on his way up the trail or on the way down. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, and the cause of death is under investigation.

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