A man, his wife, their child, and their dog found themselves enduring the heat while hiking through the California desert.
Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, their infant daughter Aurelia “Miju” Chung-Gerrish, 1, and their dog Oski died on the trail close to the Merced River in August. Following the autopsy, Authorities discovered that the real cause of their death was overheating and extreme dehydration.
The young couple likely died while attempting to save their infant daughter. Before noon on August 15, 2021, Gerrish who worked as a Snapchat engineer and was originally from Great Britain sent a desperate text to a person whose name had not been reported.
In the text message, Gerrish said, “Can you help us, no water or ver (over) heating with baby.” While trying to survive overheating and dehydration.
Unfortunately, though, there was little cell reception in that area and the text never reached its recipient. The parents also tried calling family members five times, but all were unsuccessful.
At the time, it was unclear what had caused the family to pass away so suddenly. Initially, investigators looked into all possibilities, including suicide, illegal drugs, algae-tainted water, lightning strikes, murder, and gas leaks from local mines.
Authorities discovered that the family actually passed away from severe heat stroke. According to the official report, the temperature that day reached 109 degrees. With little shade, no water, and more than a mile to their vehicles, their chances of survival were slim. On the steep terrain, the family had run out of water and was unable to cool off.
“Sadly, I believe they were caught off guard, and once they realized their situation, they died trying to save their child and each other,” A survival expert who cooperated with the police report stated that the couple most likely died while attempting to save their daughter. “It is likely the child began to succumb first, which hurried the parents’ efforts up the hill. When one could no longer continue, they stayed behind to care for the child and pet, while the other tried to forge on and get help for their loved ones. It is a tragedy of the highest order.”
Relatives first reported the family missing in August. Authorities discovered their bodies two days later on the California hiking trail. One 85-ounce bottle of bone-dry water was all the family possessed. A mile and a half from where they had left their car, the family who had gone trekking on a 6.4-mile trail had collapsed.
“The loss of the family is pain beyond words. When that pain is compacted by lack of knowledge about their death, the questions of where, why, when, and how to fill the void, day and night,” relatives said in a statement.
