Teenager apparently drowns after leaping off popular waterfall
A teenager in New York died on Tuesday after apparently drowning in a popular upstate swimming hole.
First responders rushed to the scene in the Catskill Mountains on Tuesday afternoon after receiving reports of a drowning at Fawn’s Leap, a waterfall located between the small towns of Palenville and Haines Falls.
The waterfall at Fawn’s Leap is about 24 feet above the swimming hole. The cliff has become a popular destination for thrill-seekers in upstate New York.
The victim was from a group of teenagers visiting the waterfall after driving up from New York City.
‘Investigation at the scene revealed that the victim had jumped off the ledge at the top of the falls with another friend,’ the Athens Volunteer Fire Company said in a news release.
Both teens landed at the base of the waterfall, where the hydraulic current was too strong for them to swim to safety.
‘Another swimmer who saw that they were struggling swam over trying to help,’ the fire department said. ‘He was able to assist one swimmer, but was unable to get to the second subject.’
The second teenager was eventually recovered by divers from the New York State Police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was only identified as a 16-year-old male from Brooklyn. His death is currently being investigated by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Tuesday’s incident was the third time rescuers were called to Fawn’s Leap this summer, the Albany Times-Union reported.
On July 26, first responders used a rope team to rescue a man who injured himself on the swimming hole’s bank.
The day before, dozens of rescuers spent hours rescuing 16 thrill-seekers after the Katterskill Creek rapidly rose, trapping swimmers against the banks of the river.
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