A California zip line employee fell 100 feet and died after sacrificing himself to save a woman trapped on the zip line because he was worried they would both fall due to their combined weight.
Man falls 100 feet from zip line, dies after sacrificing himself to save woman
The incident took place Saturday on the La Jolla Zip Zoom zip line on the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Pauma Valley, Southern California, between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Joaquin Romero was helping a woman on the platform hook onto the equipment when he slid down the line.
Romero, 34, apparently grabbed onto the harness to keep her from slipping, but the hook took him too.
Fox 8 reported that they were left dangling about 100 feet above the ground. An unidentified friend who recounted the incident said Romero decided to let go rather than risk them both falling.
The zip line can hold a maximum of 113 kilos and has a minimum weight of 29 kilos.
Romero was seriously injured after the fall. He was rescued by California Firefighters, who used a low-angle rope system to drag him to the edge of the road.
According to reports, the woman was not injured.
Normal Contreras, the tribal chairwoman of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, told KSWB, “We are saddened and heartbroken by the recent tragic accident of one of our employees at the La Jolla Zip Zoom Zipline.
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“The tribe, tribal officials, employees and tribal members express our sincere condolences to our employee and his family for their loss.
“Given the circumstances of the accident, the Tribe is conducting a thorough and in-depth investigation in coordination and cooperation with federal and state authorities.”
