An experienced rescuer and off-duty firefighter died while two 15-year old boys were injured on Friday morning while rappelling at Echo Canyon on Camelback Mountain.

Fire rescuers were called about 7 a.m. to Echo Canyon. An aerial view from Chopper 3 showed rescuers and patients who were the two teen boys and Gary Johnstone.

Like Us on Facebook

According to Phoenix police Sergeant Steve Martos, Johnstone was pronounced dead at a hospital due to injuries sustained in the accident. One of the teens remained in an extremely critical condition while the one is stable.

Martos added that the two boys were friends of Johnstone's son but did not yet reveal as to what went wrong that caused the accident.

Shelly Jamison, deputy chief of Fire Department said that the accident is a powerful reminded of how dangerous hiking in the Phoenix area is. Those mountains are incredibly dangerous and even level of expertise is not a guarantee of one's safety, she added.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton praised Johnstone as a man who loves his job so much that he was proud to be a Phoenix firefighter. What Johnstone has is more than just a career, but a calling.

Johnstone was with the Phoenix Fire Department for 15 years already and was with the Sun City Fire Department for 10 years prior to his work at Phoenix.

In 2006, Johnstone joined the PDF Rescue Team. This makes him an expert and an experienced rescuer for some time.

The Echo Canyon on Camelback Mountain is considered as one of the Valley's most popular hiking trails which had reopened after a U.S. $4.34 million renovation work last January 15.

In addition to Echo Canyon's popularity as a hiking trail is being known as a place of many mountain rescues.

TagsArizona, Arizona firefighter, gary johnstone, Echo Canyon, Camelback Mountain