Runyon Canyon hiker dies after being airlifted

The Runyon Canyon hiker who suddenly collapsed on a trail in front of his son and was airlifted to the hospital has died.

The California Post can confirm the hiker was Brian Spina, a 44-year-old operations strategist for toy giant Mattel.

A co-worker of Spina’s for years, Lena DeLoache, told The Post he worked for as operations strategist and brand manager. She said his death was a “tragedy.”

“Such a sudden and terrible tragedy – Brian was a talented professional who always talked about his family. Condolences to them during this time,” she wrote on Instagram.

Another former co-worker at Mattel said learning of his death was “devastating.” Several other co-workers mourned him and wished support for his wife, Marissa, and son James, and daughter Charlie.

His aunt, Susan Lunday, confirmed details about Spina and said his death came as “quite a shock.”

“Gave new meaning to the word ‘gut punch,’” she said of his death. “Felt physically ill for a couple of days. He was a wonderful family man and adored his children. He was a brand manager for Hot Wheels at Mattel Toy Corp.”

“We are all coping as best as we can. One day at a time.”

His family said in a GoFundMe for him that he collapsed and was unresponsive and not breathing while hiking Runyon.

“Brian was hiking Runyon with Charlie and a friend,” the GoFundMe, which has raised about $42,000 of its $70,000 goal, said.

“He collapsed, became unresponsive, stopped breathing, and had to be airlifted out of Runyon. He died in the helicopter.”

He worked on the company’s Hot Wheels brand, according to several LinkedIn posts. A colleague credited him with assisting on a Hot Wheels promotional video with YouTube creators Kamdenboy & Kyraboo and A for Adley.

Spina went into cardiac arrest on Sunday morning while hiking on the trail with Charlie and a young family friend. The incident happened around 9 a.m. near 1900 North Runyon Canyon Road in the Runyon Canyon Park area, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. 

Spina received medical care before the LAFD Air Operations and Rescue Helicopter performed a hoist operation to receive further medical attention at a local hospital. 

LAFD officials told The Post that CPR was performed on the man, and 32 LAFD personnel were assigned to the incident. Spina’s status was unknown until his death was announced earlier this week.

Spina’s death following his hike on the trail comes as Runyon Canyon faces a reckoning from LA residents, who say it is unsafe.

One regular hiker, Shira Astrof, told the Post: “Danger doesn’t run on a schedule. You get a smart arsonist, they go at 2 a.m. when no one’s there.”

“If I can’t go to Runyon while it’s still light out, that’s absurd.” In one incident, she said, a man began throwing rocks at hikers, and the response didn’t come quickly.

Runyon Canyon, once a neighborhood escape, now pulls in an estimated two million visitors a year, according to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

The California Post reached out to Mattel for comment.

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