Heroic last act of California hikers who drowned in frigid waterfall in front of shocked friends

Two hikers who lost their lives at a California waterfall had jumped into save their friend before all three tragically drowned.

Matthew Schoenecker, 50, of Los Angeles, and Matthew Anthony, 44, of New York, died while trying to save their friend Valentino Creus, 59, who was struggling in the water.

‘He started panicking and then the two Matts jumped in to save him, but they couldn’t and they drowned,’ Juan Heredia, the diver who discovered their bodies, told The Los Angeles Times. 

Heredia found Anthony’s body about 45 feet under in the waterfall pool. The other two were located directly under the waterfall together at roughly 47 feet down. 

Creus was the least experienced of the group of six hikers and had hesitated before jumping into Rattlesnake Falls behind Schoenecker.

Another friend had also jumped into the falls, but was able to get to safety. 

The three men went missing on June 18 after they didn’t resurface. The three others were airlifted out of the area. 

Heredia discovered the bodies on Saturday, remarking on Facebook that the, ‘waterfall was brutal’.

Matthew Schoenecker, 50, of Los Angeles, (pictured) and Matthew Anthony, 44, of New York, lost their lives while trying to save their friend Valentino Creus, 59, who was struggling

 Heredia found Anthony’s body about 45 feet under in the waterfall pool. The other two were located directly under the waterfall together at roughly 47 feet down (pictured: Matt Anthony)

‘He started panicking and then the two Matts jumped in to save him, but they couldn’t and they drowned,’ diver Juan Heredia said (pictured: Val Creus)

‘It kept pushing me down,’ he wrote. ‘But I wasn’t leaving without bringing those three souls home to their families.’ 

Heredia had to dive four times in three-minute intervals into the ‘freezing cold water’.

‘I couldn’t wait. I knew they wouldn’t surface for weeks in that water,’ he wrote. 

He got a signal around 9pm and contacted the sheriff’s department, who immediately sent in a team.  

The diver was contacted by a family friend to find the three men’s bodies. He did not get paid for the dangerous endeavor. 

The day out turned deadly despite Schoenecker’s experience at the same waterfall. A picture on his Facebook profile shows him diving into the same pool in 2015, although when conditions were much calmer. 

A friend of Creus, Matt Meeks, posted a heartbreaking tribute about him on Facebook following his death.

He’s remembered Creus as, ‘a true friend’ who would ‘always give advice.’

‘As I reflect on his death, I can’t think of a more fitting way for Val to go,’ Meeks said, referring to a time his late friend told him how there was never air conditioning in universities in the Philippines.

Heredia discovered the bodies on Saturday, remarking on Facebook that the ‘waterfall was brutal’ 

‘It kept pushing me down,’ Heredia (pictured in the red circle) wrote. ‘But I wasn’t leaving without bringing those three souls home to their families.’

When he walked into an air conditioned room years later, Creus ‘laughed’ and smiled at Meeks, he recalled.

‘Just as Val walked into that cold, air-conditioned center as a young man on a hot day and said yes to the great spiritual river that would guide his life, he spent his final hours doing the same – walking alongside his friends on a hot day, jumping into cold water and letting the river over take him.’

Meeks added: ‘Val died as he lived – riding that river all the way to Heaven alongside his friends. I sure do miss him.’

A former high school friend of Schoenecker, Jim Bembenek, wrote a tribute on Facebook: ‘Even though I did not stay in touch with Matt Schoenecker after high school, I wanted to say I’m not surprised by his self sacrifice as he valiantly tried to save his friends.

‘Matt, you will always be remembered as the guy who always did good, treated friends like family, fought injustice in all forms, and always worked to transform the world into a better place.’  

‘Our hearts have broken. Matthew Schoenecker, my nephew, was one of the men. He was a great, honorable man, leader, passionate and compassionate. He will be missed by all!’ his aunt, Jenni Schwane, wrote on the social platform. 

Placer County has advised against plunging into local ponds, lakes, and waterfalls for fear of incidents like this one.

According to their website, melting snow in northern California can leave water temperatures ‘dangerously cold’ even as the seasons change.

‘Matt [Schoenecker], you will always be remembered as the guy who always did good, treated friends like family, fought injustice in all forms, and always worked to transform the world into a better place,’ a high school classmate wrote 

Matt Anthony (pictured in white with a red tie) jumped in after he noticed Creus struggling 

Placer County has advised against plunging into local ponds, lakes, and waterfalls for fear of incidents like this one 

Placer County has warned individuals wishing to enjoy waterways to take extra precaution, regardless of the season.

Jumping into frigid waters could cause cold shock which results in, ‘a rapid loss of breathing control, increased heart rate and a gasp reflex.’

Swimmers are also at risk of hypothermia a, ‘dangerous drop in body temperature that can lead to unconsciousness and even death.’

Both of these side effects make it more difficult to swim or breathe, leading to drowning in low-temperature waterways like Rattlesnake Falls.