A Palm Desert resident who collapsed while hiking in Thousand Palms has died, according to Riverside County Coroners officials.
Avner Bethalakhmi, 61, had been on the Pushwalla Trail in the Coachella Valley Preserve when he collapsed, coroner officials said.
Authorities were called at 12:09 p.m. to an area two miles east of Thousand Palms Canyon, fire officials said. Witnesses on the trail began CPR to try and save his life, officials said.
Crews used California Highway Patrol Helicopter 60 with one CAL FIRE/Riverside County Firefighter-Paramedic on board to take the man to Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage.
He was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 1:33 p.m. The cause of death is under investigation.
