HOLLYWOOD HILLS – A West Hollywood native passed away while hiking in Runyon Canyon
Park on March 9.

According to LAFD Spokesperson Brian Humphrey, fire personnel were alerted to the hiker by a witness who saw him collapse around 2:00 p.m. Twenty-one firefighters and personnel responded to the call, aided by a fire department helicopter for hoist operations. 

The hiker was declared dead at the scene. Temperatures in the area were reported to be in the high 80s, according to The Weather Channel.

Craig R. Harvey of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office identified the hiker as Jerry Howard Berger, 58, of West Hollywood.  The final cause of death was deferred after an examination on March 11 for additional testing.