Mother grieves after son falls 40 feet to his death on hike: ‘I don’t know how to carry on’

PHOENIX (AZFamily/Gray News) - A mother is grieving the loss of her 31-year-old son, her only child, after he fell more than 40 feet to his death while hiking in Arizona.

Gilbert Ortiz, 31, was hiking a trail with his brother Friday afternoon on Phoenix’s South Mountain when he fell 40 feet to his death, according to Phoenix Fire. Investigators and family members are trying to piece together what happened.

“I don’t know how to carry on. He’s my only child,” said Marie Ortiz, the victim’s mother.

Marie Ortiz says her son was a hard worker who spent more than a decade as an auto technician. He was getting ready to pursue a new career in cybersecurity.

“He was always working. He never had a vacation,” she said.

Son was preparing to move home

Gilbert Ortiz wanted to make sure his mother was happy and covered, which is why he was pursuing IT work. He was about to move from Arizona back home to the Pacific Northwest.

Then, mid-day Friday, that chance for a happy reunion suddenly ended.

“I don’t know what happened, and just knowing he was by himself, it really hurts,” Marie Ortiz said.

She described panic and confusion as pieces of information flooded in online while she watched helplessly, more than a thousand miles away in Oregon.

“I couldn’t help him. I feel so helpless because I can’t even hold his hand,” she said.

Authorities are still piecing together exactly what happened. They say they don’t suspect any foul play.

Marie Ortiz says she wants answers, respect while she grieves and, above all else, to bring her son back home.

“At this moment, just trying to get him home. I just want my son home,” she said.

She says she wants to bury Gilbert Ortiz with his grandparents in the Pacific Northwest. The family created a GoFundMe to help with funeral and memorial expenses.