Heartbreaking news from Irvine, where a man was killed while mountain biking.
From a snakebite.
KABC-7 reports that 25-year old Costa Mesa resident Julian Hernandez was riding on the Quail Hill Trail in Irvine on Sunday, February 1st, when he stopped to wait for a friend near the Quail Hill Community Center.
He lost his balance when he tried to adjust his shoe, fell into some brush and was bitten on the leg by a rattlesnake.
A report by KTLA-5 places the time of the bite at around 11 am.
Hernandez died in the hospital on March 4th, after falling into a coma and spending more than a month in intensive care.
He may have tried riding for help, according to KNBC-4. Even if he didn’t ride after the bite, the exertion of mountain biking could have caused the venom to spread faster.
However, a crowdfunding page put up by his family tells a slightly different story.
They say he was mountain biking with his dad when he stepped aside to let others pass on the trail, and was bitten by the snake.
According to the crowdfunding page,
We are a family that handed our son over to people we trusted and never got him back. Please help spread the word and the love of my brother, who was cherished by so many, and who impacted even more people than we can imagine. Raising these funds will help cover the costs of hospital fees, his memorial service, and any additional financial strain that arises from this ongoing situation.
Julian was a leader in his community. He was a son, a brother, a loving boyfriend, and a friend to everyone. We will pursue the truth about what happened to Julian and we will stand up for him. This is not about anger. This is about accountability. This is about making sure the next family that walks through those doors doesn’t live our nightmare. Julian loved hard, laughed loud, and made everyone around him feel like they mattered. He deserved better. Please help us fight for him.
It sounds like they are blaming the hospital or the physicians who cared for him for Hernandez’ death.
As of this writing, the page has raised more than $28,000 of the $123,000 goal.
The CDC reports that only around five of the 7,000 to 8,000 people bitten by venomous snakes each year end up dying.
Whatever the reason, he was one of us, and his death serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of mountain biking, and the need to always be on the lookout for unexpected risks on any trail.
Even one close to the city.
This the 20th bicycling fatality that I’m aware of in Southern California this year; it also appears to be the first in Orange County.
And yes, it’s the first death by snakebite in the nearly 20 years I’ve been doing this.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Julian Hernandez and all his family and loved ones.
Thanks to Megan for the heads-up.
Photo by Pixabay.
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