Teen snowboarder dies within days of rescue

February 21, 1998
Web posted at: 9:54 a.m. EST (1454 GMT)

SAN BERNARDINO, California (CNN) -- A 14-year-old snowboarder who was lost for six days in the San Gabriel Mountains has died unexpectedly, just over a week after his rescue, the San Bernardino County Coroner said Saturday.

Officials at Loma Linda University Medical Center did not release details of Jeffrey Thornton's death, at the request of Thornton's family. County Coroner Andrew Avery said an autopsy would be performed.

Thornton had been moved out of the hospital's intensive care unit and into a room on Monday. On Thursday, he was visited by Dan Trebil and Brent Severyn, two players from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Thornton's favorite hockey team.

Trebil said the youth told them: "My toes -- I can't feel those."

Thornton was snowboarding with his uncle when he disappeared from the New Mountain High ski resort, about 50 miles northeast of Los Angeles. He was reported missing February 6.

Thornton was rescued and taken to a hospital February 13

During the six days he was in the mountains, Thornton survived blizzard conditions and near- and below-freezing temperatures. Thirty-nine inches of snow had fallen by the time of his rescue. Thornton survived because he was within walking distance of a creek where he could get water, said veterans of mountain searches.

On February 13, two members of the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team spotted Thornton after finding footprints in the snow at the 6,500-foot-level, and followed them to him.

Thornton was suffering from broken bones, an eye injury and frostbite on his legs, arms and hands. He had been hospitalized since his rescue.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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