JUNE 22, 6:45 P.M. UPDATE:
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The Placer County Sheriff's Office has recovered the bodies of three men who entered the water in Rattlesnake Falls near Soda Springs but never resurfaced.
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In an update to a post on their Facebook page on Sunday, the Sheriff's Office offered its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
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JUNE 20, 2:10 P.M. UPDATE:
Placer County authorities will continue to search for three missing men in Rattlesnake Falls but in an ongoing limited capacity.Â
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In its latest update, the sheriff's office says aerial surveys of the location and overall area will be conducted, as weather conditions allow.Â
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Crews have been searching for the trio since Wednesday when three other hikers told them they saw the three men jump into the water and did not resurface.Â
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"Once conditions improve, anticipated by Sunday, a coordinated plan is in place to return to the site with enhanced equipment and support from mutual aid partners to further the search efforts."
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9:40 P.M. UPDATE:
The Placer County Sheriff's Office has suspended search operations for three men who may have drowned in Rattlesnake Falls near Soda Springs, citing poor underwater visibility.
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In a post on Facebook, the Sheriff's Office said visibility issues were being caused by debris and strong currents.
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The PCSO also said increasing winds made flying conditions unsafe.
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Dive team members were taken back to the command post to conclude efforts for the evening.
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
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Placer County authorities are searching for three men who may have drowned in Rattlesnake Falls near Soda Springs.Â
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Deputies say they responded to the area shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday. (Deputies initially said Heath Falls, but have since said it happened near Rattlesnake Falls.)
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They say officers met with other people who told them the three men were hiking when they jumped into the water and did not resurface.
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A CHP helicopter later evacuated the first three men Wednesday evening.Â
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Multiple resources have been deployed for the search, including the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Search and Rescue units, CAL FIRE’s Technical Rescue Team, and CHP’s helicopter.
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"The terrain is extremely remote and difficult to access, making rescue efforts especially challenging," the sheriff's office says in a Facebook post.Â
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