A 20-year-old tourist died after falling 177 feet from the top of South Falls at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon on Monday. The man, identified as Zachary Nicholas Mertens of Kentucky, slipped and fell into the pool below around 6:30 p.m. while attempting to take a photograph.
Officials stated that Mertens had entered a closed-off area of the park before his fall. Bystanders attempted to perform CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Chris Gilliand, a former park manager, described the incident as a "pretty horrific accident."
South Falls is the tallest waterfall in Silver Falls State Park and is part of the famous Trail of Ten Falls. The park is known for an attraction that allows visitors to walk behind the cascading water.
This incident follows another recent fatality at a natural attraction in Oregon. Kenny Truong, 21, died on June 26 after entering the Blue Pool at Tamolitch Falls, an area officials have warned is deceptively dangerous. Cell service is limited in the area, complicating emergency response.
The Blue Pool has been the site of previous fatalities, including a University of Oregon tennis player in 2013 and a photographer in 2015. While swimming in the Blue Pool is not prohibited, officials had proposed a ban following multiple rescues in 2023, though the rule was not enacted.