Mark Smythe has died at the age of 53.
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The death of the film composer, known for his tense, haunting score for Hulu's horror film The Reef: Stalked, was confirmed by the New York Post.
"Fly high, my dear friend. Your legacy will continue to resonate through the many lives you touched," wrote Yail Guerra on social media. "He was one of those rare people who was always there whenever I needed him — whether it was for advice, a question, or just a chat.
What Was the Cause of Death for Mark Smythe?
According to the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team, someone reported that a hiker on the Mount Wilson Trail north of Rescue Ridge had been discovered. He was unresponsive.
The notoriously difficult path is 14 miles long. Online reviews describe it as "rocky, exposed, and steep in several sections." It has an elevation gain of nearly 5,000 feet and, on average, takes over 9 hours to complete.
Reports state that responders found family and friends attempting to resuscitate Smythe by performing CPR on the New Zealander. However, he was "determined to be deceased" when they arrived on the scene.
This is the second time this month someone has died on the trail. Another hiker fell to their death several weeks ago.
"Sierra Madre Search and Rescue extends our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased man. We also extend our thanks to the man's friends and other hikers who assisted today," responders said.
Who Is Mark Smythe?
In addition to his award-nominated work, Smythe released an EP of choral works titled Cantilenae.
"His passion for music, his dedication to his students, and his kindness left a profound mark on all of us who had the privilege of knowing him," wrote a colleague on social media.
"It is a comfort to know that he was doing one of the things he loved, hiking in the hills," his sister wrote on Facebook.
Another collaborator added, "My films became what they are because of Mark and his incredible gift for music."
