Body in Anza-Borrego Cave Successfully Removed; Identification Pending

Mine rescuers working late Tuesday night were able to successfully remove a body from a mud cave in the Anza-Borrego desert, a sheriff’s spokeswoman told Patch Wednesday.

The body was reported found Saturday in an area of unstable caverns, beneath a 60-foot shaft. The family of missing hiker Guillermo Pino reported the find.

The medical examiner has taken possession of the body. An examination will be performed and an identification released soon.

Pino, 26, , known as Arroyo Tapiado, while hiking with his family on Easter Sunday, April 8. Authorities suspended the search for him by April 17 due to the difficulty of the search in the rugged, unstable terrain.

No information was available from authorities early Wednesday about whether Pino’s family was present during the removal.

Search and rescue experts from various agencies weighed in this week on how to remove the body respectfully under such tough conditions.

The Sheriff's Department announced at 7:16 p.m. Tuesday that mine rescuers from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department were expected to extricate the body “in a few hours.”

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.