A 20-year-old tourist died after plunging about 177 feet from a waterfall in Oregon while reportedly attempting to take a photograph.
Zachary Nicholas Mertens, from Burlington, Kentucky, was visiting Silver Falls State Park when he entered a restricted area near the top of South Falls on Monday evening.
According to Oregon State Police, Mertens had entered the closed-off section to pose for a photograph when he slipped and fell into the pool below at around 6.30pm.
Bystanders immediately attempted to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but Mertens was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It was a pretty horrific accident. A very tough situation,” Chris Gilliand, a former Silver Falls State Park manager who is now a regional manager, told the Statesman Journal.
South Falls is the tallest waterfall at Silver Falls State Park and forms part of the popular Trail of Ten Falls. The attraction is particularly well known for allowing visitors to walk behind the curtain of cascading water.
The fatal incident comes shortly after another tourist died at a popular natural attraction elsewhere in Oregon.
On June 26, 21-year-old Kenny Truong was visiting Tamolitch Falls with friends when he entered the famous Blue Pool, an area authorities have repeatedly warned can be deceptively dangerous.
Blue Pool, located about 100 miles southeast of Silver Falls, remains a popular destination despite previous fatal accidents and rescue operations.
Officials have also warned that mobile phone coverage in the area is limited, making it more difficult for emergency responders to be contacted during incidents.
The pool has been the site of several serious accidents over the years. In 2013, University of Oregon tennis player Alex Rovello died after reportedly diving about 60 feet into the water.
Two years later, a photographer fell about 45 feet into shallow water and died after suffering a head injury.
Swimming in Blue Pool is currently not prohibited. Following a series of rescues in 2023, authorities proposed introducing a swimming ban, but the rule was never implemented.
