By intern Natasia Gascon
A Culver City resident missing for six days in Joshua Tree National Park spoke about his ordeal at a press conference this week.
Real estate broker Ed Rosenthal, 64, set off on the casual hike Friday, Sept. 24 to celebrate an important sale when a wrong turn led him into unfamiliar terrain. After navigating the “scary canyons” for more than 15 miles, Rosenthal found an area of shade to rest and waited to be rescued.
“My primary purpose was to stay alive,” said Rosenthal at the press conference. “I did not want to drop dead … my wife and daughter would have to deal with that.”
Rosenthal said he sat through the record-breaking heat with no water, little food and a buzzing horsefly for company. After three days, he said he began to lose hope. Having a pen but no paper, he wrote his last farewells to family and friends on the hat that shaded him.
“I really wasn’t sure I would survive, so I left instructions for my wife and daughter,” he said. The notes he scribbled on his hat included financial advice, suggested pallbearers and a plea for a wake celebrating his life, rather than a traditional funeral.
“I had to just hope that they were looking for me,” he said.
Rescuers searched frantically for Rosenthal, knowing that they had to race against time to find him alive. His disappearance coincided with that of Sally Menke, the Oscar-nominated editor for Quentin Tarantino. Menke was found dead after hiking in the Hollywood hills.
Search teams were sent out on Sunday, Sept. 26, when it became apparent Rosenthal was missing. The next day six teams were combing the numerous hiking trails around Black Rock Canyon. On Tuesday, Sept. 28, they found Rosenthal’s tracks and narrowed the search area.
When a helicopter flew overhead, Rosenthal flashed his emergency blanket and blasted his whistle, he said, but “couldn’t get a response.” He admitted that he was about to give up hope of rescue when the helicopter finally spotted him.
“The helicopter came into the canyon and the gentleman asked ‘Hey, are you that Rosenthal who’s out here?’”
Rosenthal was quickly airlifted out of the desert and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for dehydration and exposure. On Monday, Oct. 4, Rosenthal was released and returned to his Culver City home.
His story of survival has gathered national media attention, but Rosenthal remains humble and thankful for his rescue. “It was a miracle, it was definitely a miracle,” he said, adding, “I don’t think I’m even going hiking for a long time.”
