Editorial
A zipline employee has tragically fallen to his death after heroically ‘trying to save a stuck woman,’ according to reports.
Joaquin Romero, 34, was apparently assisting a woman at the La Jolla Zip Zoom Zipline on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, based in the Pauma Valley of California, when the incident took place on October 30.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the member of staff attempted to assist the visitor when she apparently ‘slid off the line’.
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It’s believed that when Romero attempted to reach out for the woman’s harness, he ended up being pulled away from the platform.
At this point, the pair were reportedly dangling 70ft in the air and moments later, the 34-year-old allegedly fell to his death.
According to Fox8, a friend of Romero has claimed that the zipline employee would have been concerned over the weight of the pair and the pressure it would have been putting on the platform.
It’s believed the member of staff was airlifted to Sharp Memorial Hospital but devastatingly passed away on Monday morning. However, the woman was left ‘uninjured’.
The medical officer reportedly stated that Romero died from ‘multiple blunt force injuries’.
They apparently wrote: “Following admission, [Romero] was diagnosed with multiple blunt force injuries.
“[Romero] was given a poor prognosis and family decided to place him on comfort care measures which were administered until his death was pronounced on 11/01/2021.”
A statement has since been released by the tribal chairwoman, Normal Contreras, of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians.
According to KSWB, she said: “We are saddened and heartbroken over the recent tragic accident involving one of our employees at the La Jolla Zip Zoom Zipline.”
She continued: “Like any employer, we pride ourselves on having a safe working environment and a safe and enjoyable experience for our customers.
“Given the circumstances of the accident, the Tribe is conducting an in-depth and comprehensive investigation, in coordination and cooperation with federal and state authorities.
“Until this investigation is completed, we won’t be able to provide any further comment on this incident.
“We ask that you join us in keeping our employee and his family in our prayers.”
Romero’s family has now launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of the 34-year-old’s funeral. If any sum is left over, it will reportedly be placed in his child’s savings account.
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