Overview
- Mark Smythe, 53, suffered a medical emergency on the Mount Wilson Trail on Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The Los Angeles County coroner listed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as the cause, a plaque buildup in arteries that can trigger a heart attack.
- Sierra Madre Search and Rescue joined friends and family performing CPR near Rescue Ridge, with fire and police units arriving around 10 a.m.
- The New Zealand–born, L.A.-based composer scored films such as The Reef: Stalked, earned 2023 industry nominations, taught at CSUN and the Los Angeles College of Music, and drew tributes from peers including Bear McCreary.
- His death was the second fatal incident on Mt. Wilson this month, after a May 3 fall killed 66-year-old hiker John McIntyre on the same trail.