The heroic actions of Joaquin Romero, a zipline worker in San Diego County, may have ultimately led to his death on Saturday after the 34-year-old was fatally injured after falling more than 100 feet at La Jolla Zip Zoom in Pauma Valley, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Banning resident was working on the receiving platform of the Indian Reserve’s zipline attraction when he tried to help a person on the ride, officials said.
A friend told the Daily Mail that Romero was harnessing a woman when they were both pulled out onto the line and left dangling 100 feet above the ground. It’s believed that Romero feared their combined weight would lead to a collapse, and let himself fall in order to save the woman’s life.
Cal Fire rescuers were called in to rescue Romero, and transported him to Sharp Memorial Hospital Emergency Department via helicopter, where he was diagnosed with multiple blunt force injuries and a poor prognosis.
“Family decided to place him on comfort care measures,” the S.D. Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement. “Which were administered until his death was pronounced on [Monday].”
Statements from Romero’s friend, who detailed the lead up to the fall, have not been confirmed by the Medical Examiner’s Office or investigators. KNX has reached out to a family friend to learn more.
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