A 20-year-old tourist has died after falling approximately 177 feet from the top of South Falls waterfall in Silver Falls State Park, Oregon. The incident occurred on Monday, August 10, at around 6:30 p.m. local time.
Victim identified
Zachary Nicholas Mertens, of Burlington, Kentucky, slipped and fell while taking photographs. According to the Oregon State Police, he had accessed a closed area to pose for photos before the fall.
Another visitor attempted CPR on Mertens before emergency crews arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, The Statesman Journal reports.
Park details
Silver Falls State Park is Oregon's largest state park, covering more than 9,000 acres near Silverton. It features the Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile loop with an 800-foot elevation change, considered a moderate hike. South Falls is a 177-foot waterfall along the trail.
Recovery efforts
Oregon State Police troopers and Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the report at approximately 6:36 p.m. The Marion County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team oversaw recovery efforts, assisted by park rangers.
No further details have been released, and the park has not yet commented on the incident.
