Boy, 17, slips and falls 150ft to his death after climbing cliff with friend
A 17-year-old boy slipped and fell 150ft to his death after climbing a Utah cliff at the weekend, it has emerged.
The unnamed teenager, from Utah, US, and his friend were climbing the cliff's edge at the Hurricane Overlook around 5.30pm on Saturday.
According to police, he reportedly slipped and fell 150ft to the ground as his worried friend looked on.
Emergency services were called and were able to climb down the cliff within 15 minutes but when they arrived the teen was tragically found dead.
The teenager's name, who lived in LaVerkin, a city about 2.5 miles north of Hurricane, was not released by police.
Missing radioactive capsule found after huge search - and it's the size of a pea
"We wish to offer our prayers and sincerest condolences to his family and friends after this tragic accident," police said in a statement.
An investigation into the teen's death is underway.
The tragic fall follows a week after a girl fell to her death after she lost her footing during a hiking trip.
Police were called to the scene but the boy was pronounced dead (Hurricane Police)Zoe McKinney was hiking with a group of friends in the Moab Rim Trail in Kane Creek Canyon, Utah, US, on Friday afternoon when she entered a steep area and “somehow slipped and fell”, according to the Moab Police Department.
The teen, who was without any hiking equipment, fell off the ledge and into a "deep, cliffy area" as officials struggled to reach her due to the 30ft fall.
Her friends quickly called 911 at around 4.10pm and rescue teams were dispatched to try and rescue the teen.
Using ropes and harnesses the 17-year-old was reached but she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Assistant police chief Lex Bell said her family were at the scene as the rescue teams tried to rescue the hiker.
The teen was set to receive an award from her school Grand County High School on the same day she died.
"The timing is even just that much more tragic with tonight and what was going to occur," Mr Bell added.
Boy, 3, dies after being left in sweltering car in 34C heat 'throughout the day'
Grand County School District paid tribute, saying: "Zoe was a remarkable student and we will honour her memory throughout the remainder of this senior year.
“The school community is grieving with Zoe’s family and will provide love and support in any way we can, including having therapists available at school on Monday.”
Moab Police Department chief Jared Garcia said the loss has left the local community devastated.
He said: “We recognise the devastating impact the loss of a beloved young woman and friend has in this small community, but know that wonderful people of Moab will band together to support and comfort her family and friends at this time."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
