Teen Lost Touch With Reality Before Walking Off CA's Highest Mountain, Dad Says

INYO COUNTY, CA — A California teen remains in a coma after he walked off the side of Mount Whitney while hallucinating and fell more than 100 feet, according to reports.

Zane Wach, 14, of Santa Clarita, had not regained consciousness as of Wednesday, according to SFGate, which interviewed his father, Ryan Wach.

The incident occurred on June 10, according to the California Highway Patrol. Calls about the fall came in shortly before 8 p.m., but it had occurred over 3 miles from the trailhead along a steep area, and rescuers were unable to reach the father and son until after midnight, with Zane loaded onto a helicopter after 1 a.m., according to Inyo County Search & Rescue.

“He and I were hiking down Mt Whitney and he was suffering from extreme exhaustion and was delirious and hallucinating,” Ryan wrote in a post on CaringBridge. “He was disoriented and before I could grab him, wandered off a ledge and fell about 150 feet.”

Zane suffered a large skull fracture with bleeding and brain swelling. He also broke part of his pelvis and a finger, and needed stitches for several cuts.

The fall occurred after the father and son had reached the summit and were on their way down the mountain, Ryan told SFGate. Mount Whitney has the highest peak in the lower 48 states, according to the Sierra Mountain Center.

“He was in an altered mental state, and I don’t know what caused it. We still don’t know,” Ryan told SFGate. “My best guess is a combination of exhaustion, sleep deprivation, probably some dehydration and lasting effects from the altitude sickness. But he essentially started to doubt reality.”

Ryan on CaringBridge expressed gratitude for an emergency medical technician and two emergency room nurses who happened to be hiking the day of the fall and provided aid.

He described Zane as special, tough and full of grit.

“He's not done being awesome, as he'll show everyone as he pulls through this with everyone's help,” Ryan wrote on CaringBridge.

A GoFundMe started to support the family had received nearly $19,000 in donations as of Wednesday afternoon.