Hiker found dead in backcountry near Santa Paula

A hiker was found dead Sunday in a popular recreation area in Santa Paula Canyon in the Los Padres National Forest, officials said.

The man was hiking alone and had some type of medical problem, said Sgt. Jason Cantrall of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office's major crimes unit.

The victim was from Santa Paula and was approximately 50 years old, but his identity has not yet been released by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office. It's not clear whether the man fell in the rocky terrain where the rains have washed out many trails.

He is believed to have been stricken around the time that an unidentified party called the 911 emergency line at 12:31 p.m.

The area is a popular draw for people who want to see the Punch Bowls, which are marked by waterfalls and pools of water where people swim.

Cantrall said there was no evidence of any crime. The hiker was found by other hikers in rocky terrain about 2 to 3 miles from a trailhead on the Santa Paula-Ojai Road, Cantrall said.

The sheriff's office recovered the body by helicopter, he said.

This story may be updated.