Overview
- Julian Hernandez, 25, was bitten on Feb. 1 at Irvine’s Quail Hill Trailhead after losing his balance and falling into brush, according to Irvine police.
- The Orange County Fire Authority transported him to a hospital, where he remained in intensive care before dying on March 4; the coroner classified the case as an animal bite.
- His family has initiated a third-party autopsy and launched a GoFundMe to cover expenses and seek answers about his care.
- Authorities say the specific snake was not recovered, and detailed timelines of in-hospital treatment have not been publicly released.
- Officials and experts report earlier rattlesnake activity this season and urge immediate medical care after bites, noting CDC data that 7,000–8,000 venomous bites occur annually in the U.S. with only a handful of deaths.