A California woman lost her life after falling from a 140-foot cliff while hiking with her husband and their 1-year-old child in Arizona. The woman, identified as 40-year-old Zaynab Joseph, was hiking on the challenging Bear Mountain trail in Sedona when the incident occurred, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
Officials said a group of hikers found Joseph seriously injured after hearing cries for help on April 17. One of the hikers immediately called 911, while another descended the embankment to reach Joseph, who was still breathing at the time. She passed away shortly after.
The victim's husband and toddler were airlifted from the mountain by helicopter, and her body was recovered by the authorities. Deputies stated the family was staying at a rented Airbnb in Sedona at the time of the incident.
According to USA Today, the Bear Mountain trail is known for its difficulty. With an elevation of about 2,000 feet in just over 2 miles to a peak, the trail is listed as hard on the AllTrails hiking app. The app warns hikers that the trail is rugged with sections on pure rock at an almost vertical drop.
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the incident, and as of now, no conclusions have been drawn about the cause of the accident.
Joseph worked as a part-time teacher in Garden Grove, California, according to her LinkedIn page. She's remembered by her friends and family as a devoted mother of three young children.
"She had a heart of gold and was very dear to all of us. No words can describe the pain our families are going through, especially her husband and three young children," Farwa Azidi, who described Joseph as her sister, friend, and confidant, wrote on Facebook.