29-year-old Oscar Alejandro Hernandez often explored challenging hiking trails, and sometimes his dog King accompanied him. After a tiresome hike, he always returned home to his family feeling fulfilled. But after one adventure, he didn’t come back.
Hernandez and King were missing for about two weeks. Their family was devastated, but then some horrific news made the situation even worse. Hernandez’s loved ones found out that he didn’t survive the trail, despite King’s efforts to protect him. In life and death, our furry friends always remain loyal to us.
A Sudden Disappearance
Hernandez and King were declared missing on March 16 at about 2:30 am. They were last seen hiking at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, which is a massive park with many secluded trails. He was last seen by the park’s merry-go-round.
“Oscar was last seen on March 16, 2022, at 2:30 am, in the Griffith Park area, driving a red 2004 Ford Explorer. He has not been seen or heard from since. His family is concerned for his safety,” the missing person report states.
Firefighters, police officers, park rangers, and family members all searched for Hernandez. They spread missing person posters that showed photos of the man and his dog. It took about two weeks for someone to locate him, but it’s unclear how he was discovered.
Sadly, when they found Hernandez, the man was deceased. His body was on a difficult trail near the merry-go-round. King survived the hike, but he had refused to leave his dad’s side. Instead of trying to find food, water, and shelter, the loyal dog had planned to stay by his human’s side until the very end.
The Dog Survives
As responders approached the man’s body, they saw that the dog was emaciated and exhausted, but still alive. If they hadn’t found him in time, he might not have lived much longer. A video on Twitter showed the dog in the back of a truck after being rescued.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue team removed Hernandez’s body with a helicopter since it was on a steep hillside. At this time, the exact cause of death is unknown, so officials are still investigating the situation.
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Hernandez’s family has chosen not to discuss his death at this time. In addition to King, Hernandez also has a wife and daughter who are heartbroken by his sudden death. If you’d like to help the family during this tragic time, you can donate to their GoFundMe page.
#BREAKING: Body of 29 year old Oscar Hernandez, missing for 16 days, discovered in #GriffithPark. His dog, King, found alive and by his side. pic.twitter.com/9hieZs806u
— Robert Kovacik (@RobertNBCLA) April 1, 2022
H/T: nypost.com
Featured Image: Facebook
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