Portland man dies in fall on Mount St. Helens

MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. (AP) – Authorities say a 44-year-old Portland man suffered a medical event and died in a fall on Mount St. Helens.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that the man was hiking Thursday with a group of three at about the 6,700-foot (2,042-meter) level in the Monitor Ridge area when he fell.

Undersheriff Patrick Bond identified the hiker as Jason Douthit.

Bond says he collapsed when he suffered the sudden medical event, which caused him to fall. He injured his head, but it appears the fall didn’t cause his death.

Officials say the group of climbers started CPR on the man as a helicopter crew flew to the area. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.