San Juan Man Dies Rappelling Cold Waterfall Near Julian

San Juan Capistrano resident Matthew David Pack died Friday afternoon while attempting to rappel down a 300-foot waterfall in the Cleveland National Forest, southwest of Julian, City News Service reports.

Pack, 24, died about halfway down Mildred Falls and was left dangling overnight, until a recovery team reached the body about 1 p.m. Saturday.

Someone in the area heard Pack screaming Friday afternoon and called for help, but by the time a helicopter crew was able to spot him, he appeared to be dead, authorities said.

Those who heard his cries for help could see him in the waterfall, suspended in his climbing harness by a rope, the San Diego Medical Examiner's Office reported.

Authorities have not said what the 911 caller told them, and it was unclear what may have happened to Pack.

"It was an emotional rescue," said Dwight Broeman, a friend of one of the firefighters who recovered the body.  Broeman exchanged Facebook messages with the firefighter's wife last night.

"It was a 300-foot cliff, and he apparently had only 100 to 200 feet of rope," Broeman said.

No recovery attempt was made until first light Saturday, with rescue climbers rappelling to the body, reaching the area just before 1 p.m., said San Diego County Sheriff's Department Lt. David Brown. Pack apparently was climbing alone.

An autopsy tentatively scheduled for today will determine the cause of death.

The falls are seasonal, running after storms or due to upstream snow melt on hot winter days, like Friday. The water was cold—in the 30s, Brown said.

An outdoors website described the first descent as about 100 feet, ending with a new bolt for tying off, then a second descent of about 250 feet "mostly free-hanging.''