Two college students who went missing during a Mountain Hike in Colorado have died after suffering a "catastrophic failure."
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The victims have been identified as Colorado Mountain College Leadville students. 20-year-old Jackson Donlon and 19-year-old Kaden Matsuda. According to a report from the
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, the two scholars "fell a substantial distance," and landed in a mountain basin. Due to their equipment malfunctioning.Two Students Dead After Equipment Malfunction
The report says that Jackson "was beginning to rappel from a primary anchor point on a rock substrate."
It also said that Donlon's anchor "appears to have been backed up by a piton and a secondary anchor made of rock substrate."
The report also said that Kaden had been "attached via his personal anchor device to the same anchor points as well as the primary anchor point."
It was at that point that the "anchor had a catastrophic failure of unknown cause," according to the report.
The release also notes that there was a "heavy snowstorm." At the time when the two victims fell to their deaths. But that the inclement weather "did not play a direct contributing factor in their death."
Release Pays Tribute to Fallen Victims
The Sheriff's Office said that the autopsy showed that the cause of the students' deaths was multiple blunt force injuries and their deaths were instant."
The release also paid tribute to Kaden and Jackson. The tribute noted that the two college students lived life at the "highest peak."
"Kaden and Jackson lived life at the highest peaks, chasing freedoms and panoramic views that most of us only see in pictures. We hope their families and friends find strength in the memories of their vibrant spirits," the release said.
"While their lives were far too short, they spent their final moments together surrounded by the majestic beauty of Chaffee County's high peaks that they loved. There is also relief knowing neither of them suffered."
Additionally, the report says that Kaden and Jackson were a shining example of what "preparation looks like."
May the two of them rest in peace.
