The State - News from June 24, 1986

Park rangers used a helicopter to recover the body of a Torrance climber who fell to his death above Yosemite Falls. Park spokeswoman Mallory Smith said Austin Colley, 43, and fellow climber Joe Kristy, 40, of Burbank, both fell. Colley fell about 70 feet and was killed instantly. Kristy fell about five feet, breaking his hip. A friend of the two, Chris Vandiver of Truckee, realized Colley and Kristy were overdue and climbed into the area to find them. He helped Kristy to safety and then went back into Yosemite Valley to report the accident.