San Pasqual Grad Succumbs to Injuries From Hiking Fall

ESCONDIDO, CA: An Escondido woman who fell from a cliff while hiking in Phoenix, Arizona last month has died from her injuries, according to an internet post by her family.

Makayla "Kayla" Castro, 18, had graduated last year from San Pasqual High School and was a freshman at Grand Canyon University. She fell about 100 feet down a cliff on Camelback Mountain on April 20.

She barely survived the fall, was rescued and had been in a medically induced coma when she died. A portion of her skull had been removed at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital.

She and a male friend had been hiking on the steep mountain, on a trail called "Suicide Direct," when she was spotted in trouble. A paramedic below her was calling 911 when she fell, according to the Phoenix New Times.

The city of Phoenix has signs and stations city workers at the trailheads to warn hikers of the hazards on Camelback, which is a prominent landmark in the heart of the Valley Of The Sun. It is ascended by 700,000 people a year, and one or two are carried away a week.

"We want to thank you all for loving, supporting and praying over Makayla," the family statement said. "She fought so hard, but her injuries were just too much for her to overcome. We know she is in a good place and God is taking such good care of her.

"God must be so happy to have a perfect child with him. We have always felt that she was our Angel on earth but now she will be our Angel in Heaven and will be watching over all of us."

The statement went on to read: "Makayla was the most amazing daughter, who always did the right thing and she was always mindful of being a good person no matter the circumstance. She so loved her friends and family with every ounce of her being. She was our shining light who shined brighter then I ever thought was possible and most importantly, anyone that ever met her knew she loved the Lord."

A GoFundMe account had also been established on her survivors' behalf.

City News Service

(Image via GoFundMe)