Thursday, June 30, 2011

Dr. Gregory Meyer and Richard Fox from Whittier Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital killed after being swept away in a Yosemite river near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Kern River leaving its canyonImage via WikipediaBy Randy Economy
Thursday, June 30, 2011
11:18 p.m.

Whittier, CA
Our local community here in Whittier is in shock tonight after it was learned that two popular members of the famed Whittier Presbyterian Inter community Hospital have been confirmed to have died after falling into a wild river in the historic Yosemite Valley.


The local men killed have been ided as Dr. Gregory Meyer, an emergency room medical specialist and his friend Richard Fox, who is a physician's assistant in the emergency department.  According to the hospital's website, Meyer was a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, and completed his Internship at LA Co.-Harbor-UCLA Med. Center.


They apparently were on a backpacking trip in the rugged area and ran into trouble on Wednesday. They were swept over a bridge and into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

These two deaths are being felt all over Whittier tonight. These two men are not the only local men to have been killed in tragic river incidents during the past three weeks.
Yosemite Valley, California - USA.Image via Wikipedia
Earlier this month, the body of Minh Nguyen, a 24 year old Westminster native who went missing nearly for two weeks was killed in a river accident at the Kern River along with Norwalk resident Scott Neacato, 22, who was with Nguyen when they were both swept into the wild rapids. Neacato's body has still not been found as of this post. (See other information on Scott and Mihn here on my blog).

Both Meyer and Fox are in their 50's according to media reports. It is also being reported that they were with a group of friends who also work at WPIH including Meyer's wife.

My heart breaks for these two men, and for Minh and Scott and all the families touch in these two horrific tragedies. Share your thoughts below this post. Should these rivers been made "off limits" for the remainder of this season due to the past record snow fall?  RIP. More details later. Keep EVERYONE in your PRAYERS who have been touched by these passings.
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2 comments:

Nick in Norwalk said...

My THOUGHTS ARE WITH EVERYONE who is TOUCHED by THESE FOUR MEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN LOST IN RIVERS DURING THE PAST FOUR WEEKS.

Anonymous said...

Maria in Whittier

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these men. We, in Whittier are deeply saddened by this tragedy.