Rescue crews have located the body of an Oregon climber who went missing earlier this week, according to local officials.
After several days of searching by air, rescue crews in Oregon used drone footage Thursday to locate the body of 21-year-old Joel Tranby on North Sister mountain, according to a Facebook post from the Lane County Sheriffs Office.
Tranby died after falling several hundred feet down a loose and rocky slope, says the post.
Rescue teams are able to see his body from a helicopter, but the extremely loose and steep rocky terrain is making it impossible to reach him on foot, according to the sheriffs office.
Officials are currently consulting expert climbers to determine if a recovery mission is possible.
The spotters from the helicopter were able to see Joel and confirmed that he is no longer with us, his mother April Tranby wrote on Facebook Thursday. Joel has gone to be with the Lord.
The sheriffs office first received a call about Tranbys fall on Monday, according to the sheriffs office.
The caller reported that her boyfriend had fallen approximately 300-500ft down the slope and was severely injured, says the post. The caller was unable to see where the victim had fallen or reach him due to the extremely steep and rocky terrain.
Search crews arrived via helicopter and immediately began searching for him.
We are saddened by this loss of life and extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends, the sheriffs office said.
North Sister is the oldest and longest active volcano of Oregons Three Sisters, according to the US Geological Survey.