A hiker collapsed and died Saturday evening on a trail in Cleveland National Forest near Alpine, a sheriff's deputy said.
CalFire received the hiker-in-distress call around 7 p.m. near the Horse Thief Canyon area of Lyons Valley Road, San Diego sheriff's Lt. Damon Blankenbaker said.
Once first responders arrived, they found the 64-year-old man unresponsive and not breathing, he said. Medics tried CPR but the man wasn't responding, the lieutenant said.
Because of the heat and rugged terrain in the area, a sheriff's helicopter was called in to recover the man's body, Blankenbaker said.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office took charge of the body and will lead the investigation, he said.
The man's identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
