Hiking Fatality
Phoenix hiker, 31, falls 40 feet to his death; mother expresses profound grief
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Gilbert Ortiz, 31, fell 40 feet to his death while hiking alone on Phoenix's South Mountain on Friday, May 31, 2024. His mother, Marie Ortiz, said the loss is "unbelievable" and that she doesn't know "how to carry on without him." FOX 10 Phoenix reported her calling her son "my world."
Ortiz was on the edge of a major life change. He had spent more than a decade as an auto technician and had just earned cybersecurity certifications. He was days away from moving to the Pacific Northwest to start a new career — and a new life.
Phoenix Fire Crews Raced to a Deadly Scene
Emergency crews got a 911 call around 2:30 PM, according to Arizona's Family. Phoenix Fire sent ground teams and a rescue helicopter called Firebird. They found Ortiz at the bottom of a steep rock face, critically injured after a 40-foot drop.
Paramedics could not save him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Crews used a "long-line" helicopter operation to recover his body from the rugged terrain. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner took custody to determine the official cause of death.
Decomposed Granite and Desert Heat Made a Deadly Mix
South Mountain Park spans over 16,000 acres and is one of the largest city parks in the United States. Hiking safety experts told Arizona's Family that the mountain's surface is covered in "decomposed granite" — loose, crumbled rock that acts like ball bearings on steep slopes. Even careful hikers can slip without warning.
The temperature at South Mountain was near 100 degrees at the time of the fall, according to the National Weather Service. Phoenix Fire performs more than 250 mountain rescues every year. South Mountain is one of the most common sites for technical falls. The trail Ortiz was on did not trigger a mandatory closure that day.
A Son on the Verge of His Dream Life
Marie Ortiz told FOX 10 Phoenix that her son was a "cautious person," making his death even harder to accept. Gilbert had worked more than 10 years in auto repair — a hard, physical trade. He had recently added cybersecurity skills, a field in high demand across the country.
He was planning to move back to Washington state to be closer to extended family and start fresh. His mother said the cruelty of the timing is almost impossible to bear. "He was my world," she said. "I don't know how to carry on."
Family Turns to GoFundMe to Bring Gilbert Home
Because Ortiz lived in Arizona but was moving to the Pacific Northwest, his family now faces the cost of transporting his remains across state lines. That process is far more expensive than a local burial. The family set up a GoFundMe with an initial goal of more than $20,000 to cover funeral and memorial costs, according to KWCH.
Donations poured in quickly. Friends and community members described Ortiz online as a "hard worker" and a "devoted son." His death has also renewed calls in Phoenix for stronger heat warnings and trail safety measures on South Mountain during peak afternoon hours.
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