Man from England crushed by El Capitan rockfall in Yosemite
El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
A man from England died on Wednesday and a woman hiking with him was injured when a total of seven rockfalls crushed them 650 feet about El Capitan, Yosemite National Park officials announced on Thursday.
They were not identified as park rangers needed to speak with the Consulate from Great Britan to notify family members first, Yosemite officials said in a news release.
The rocks fell over a four-hour time span, with the initial rockfall happening about 2 p.m. A total of 1,300 tons fell from 1,800 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor.
The man was found dead and the woman was flown out of the park with serious injuries, rangers said.
At least 30 climbers were on the wall at the time, and all have been accounted for, Yosemite National Park spokesman Scott Gediman said.
El Capitan is one of the world's largest granite monoliths above Yosemite Valley and a popular hiking spot.
Rock falls are common in Yosemite but seldom fatal.
Climber Kevin Jorgeson said he and climbing partner Tommy Caldwell witnessed a massive rock fall in the same area while they prepared for a trek that made them the first people to free-climb the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in 2015.