Harrowing final message Brit dad sent before dying alongside family & pet dog while hiking – but text never made it

THE harrowing last message the British dad sent before dying alongside his family during a hike has been revealed- but sadly it never went through. Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, and their one-year-old daughter Miju were all found dead by search teams in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest in California last August. ABCJonathan and Ellen died while hiking last August[/caption] FacebookThe dad frantically tried to call for help[/caption] Rosanna HeaslettThe family died from hyperthermia while hiking at the Sierra National Forest[/caption] Cops investigated the mysterious deaths for months and eventually concluded that the family tragically “died trying to save each other” as they were hiking in scorching 38C temperatures. Months after the probe, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has released information extracted from the dad’s phone. It appears the software engineer had frantically tried to ask for help before dying from “hyperthermia, and probable dehydration due to environmental exposure.” The final message read: “(Name redacted) can you help us. On savage lundy trail heading back to Hites cove trail. No water or ver (over) heating with baby.” Unfortunately, the text wasn’t sent due to poor service. Most read in The Sun WE'RE DOMED Brits battered by killer 122mph winds - stronger than Great Storm of 1987 RED ALERT Storm Eunice SHUTS schools with pupils told 'stay home' amid 100mph winds GAVIN FUN Charlotte Church's ex Gavin Henson unrecognisable with bushy beard running a pub WOODS CHARGED Katie Price's fiance Carl charged over 'threatening and abusive behaviour' PRICEY NEW LOOK Katie Price shows off £10k face for first time after brow lift & chin lipo SMILES BETTER Danniella Westbrook is all smiles shopping after recent lip fillers and Botox The dad also attempted making five calls to different numbers which were never connected. Sheriff Jeremy Briese said the data from the dad’s phone “confirmed the team’s initial findings.” Detectives had initially launched a murder probe but they then ruled out homicide. The couple had reportedly moved to Mariposa from San Francisco to raise their daughter in “a quiet, slow-paced environment, surrounded by open-air and close to the mountains for hiking and camping adventures”. Jonathan, who was originally from Lancashire and had worked for Google and Snapchat, was out on Sunday with his family for what was supposed to be a day hike. But when their nanny arrived at the family home to look after little Miju, no one answered the door and friends became worried. They were reported missing by a relative and authorities found the family’s car near the Sierra National forest gate the same day. Their bodies were located two miles from their car in an area with no phone reception. A survival trainer who contributed to the case wrote an email to detectives saying the couple were likely attempting to seek help for their daughter. “Sadly, I believe they were caught off guard, and once they realized their situation, they died trying to save their child and each other,’ the unidentified trainer wrote.  “It is likely the child began to succumb first, which hurried the parents’ efforts up the hill. “When one could no longer continue, they stayed behind to care for the child and pet, while the other tried to forge on and get help for their loved ones.” RexJonathan had tried sending a text and calling[/caption] EnterpriseTheir bodies were located two miles from their car[/caption] We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.