Dillon Falls waterfall horror as 6 tourists swept down 15ft plunge with 1 dead and 2 missing
Several tourists were horrifically swept over a waterfall leaving one person dead and two people missing.
A group of six travellers had visited the popular Deschutes River, in Oregon, United States, but they went over the Dillon Falls waterfall and plunged down 15ft, on Saturday afternoon. Police confirmed three people were rescued following the horror plunge, and they were rushed to hospital, but one person tragically died at the scene. Emergency crews launched a desperate search for two people who went missing after the terrifying incident, as they deployed drones to search for any survivors at the waterfall.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said it received a call at around 2.57pm on Saturday afternoon, alerting them to the emergency, but said search efforts had to be paused overnight. Rescuers have since resumed their mission on Sunday morning but two tourists remain missing.
The police department said: "A multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway after a group of six individuals went over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River west of Bend Saturday afternoon."
The Sheriff's office added: "DCSO Search & Rescue and Bend Fire & Rescue crews continued recovery efforts into the evening and will work until sunset. If unsuccessful, operations will pause overnight and resume in the morning."
The names of the victim and missing people have not been shared by police at this moment. Dillon Falls has a 15ft (4.5 metres) drop that turns into "churning rapids in a quick, step ladder-like pattern", according to the Visit Central Oregon website.
Photos from the search have shown rescuers on boats and rafts floating down the river as they look into the water for any clues or the missing tourists. Cops added that drones were also involved in the operation.
The Dillon Falls and Deschutes River are popular spots in the summer with thousands of people visiting on boats and kayaks to go down the river.
This tragically has not been the only fatal incident at a waterfall recently. A woman lost her life after a fall at a Scottish beauty spot last week.
Emergency services were called to the waterfalls at Campsie Glen in East Dunbartonshire, north of Glasgow, at around 12.35pm on Saturday. Authorities were told that a 63-year-old woman had taken a tumble near a car park at the popular location.
Betty Molloy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, despite the swift arrival of emergency services. Tributes were paid to Betty following the tragedy, according to the Daily Record. Eileen Dolan said: "Thoughts and prayers to Betty's family. This is an absolute tragedy. RIP Betty."
Mary Young added: "RIP Betty, you were such a lovely lady, thinking of all your family and friends." Pearl O'Donnell said: "RIP Betty, thoughts with the family. This is an absolute tragedy."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
17 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Walker falls down steep rockface at Loch Lomond in second major rescue in a week
The man was treated for wounds before being moved onto a boat and taken to Inveruglas where they were handed over to the Scottish Ambulance Service for further treatment. A hiker had to be rescued after falling onto a rockface along the eastern shoreline of Loch Lomond while walking the West Highland Way – the second significant rescue operation in the area in less than a week. The man suffered injuries when he fell on the rocks at a section of the iconic route near Island I Vow on Saturday evening. Loch Lomond Rescue Boat (LLRB) were paged by Police Scotland at around 5.45pm to reports of a walker who had "fallen from a height", sustaining injuries and requiring medical assistance. The LLRB launched and made their way to the location near Island I Vow on the east side of Loch Lomond – around two and a half miles north of Inversnaid. An LLRB spokesperson reported: "Once on scene, our crew began assessing the casualty and treating wounds before moving the casualty onto the boat and transferring over to Inveruglus where the patient was handed over to Scottish Ambulance Service for further treatment." Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team was also on standby, prepared to offer support if required. The emergency crews were eventually stood down at about 8.30pm that same evening and returned to their base. The incident is the second major rescue at the location within a week, following an earlier event where two hikers suffered severe injuries. The pair, along with a third walker, had been navigating the famous trail when all three plummeted down the steep rockface on Tuesday, July 22, afternoon. LLRB received an alert from Police Scotland at 3.55pm following reports of three people on the West Highland Way who had fallen, suffering serious injuries and needing urgent help. When rescue crews reached the scene, they immediately began casualty care, assessing, treating and monitoring two patients, while the third walker left the scene, refusing medical help. Due to the remote location where the two injured ramblers were stranded on the rocks, the LLRB requested backup from Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team (Arrochar MRT). Two LLRB crew members remained with the casualties to provide treatment, while the boat returned to transport mountain rescue volunteers to the scene. An LLRB spokesman said: "With the assistance of Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team utilising rope techniques we lowered and loaded the first patient onto the rescue boat and conveyed them to the waiting ambulance at Inveruglus. "We then returned to collect the remaining casualty and crew before again returning to Inveruglus to meet the second ambulance. "We wish both casualties a speedy recovery and would like to thank Arrochar Mountain Rescue team and Scottish ambulance colleagues for their assistance." An Arrochar MRT spokesperson said: "Our team responded to an incident on the east side of Loch Lomond, where two walkers sustained injuries after falling down a steep drop along the West Highland Way. Both walkers were unable to continue their journey and required immediate assistance. "With help from the LLRB, our team members were transported from Inveruglas to the casualties' location. First aid was administered on scene, and both individuals were stretchered to the boat before being transferred to waiting ambulances in Inveruglas. "A huge thank you to the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat crew, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service for their swift and invaluable support. We also wish both casualties a full and speedy recovery."
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
RNLI called after person jumps from Eastbourne Pier
A person has been taken to hospital with "suspected spinal injuries" after jumping from Eastbourne Pier, the RNLI crews said they helped to rescue someone who had jumped from the East Sussex pier at about 20:15 BST on RNLI said it was urging people to "think twice" before jumping from piers, groynes or other sea walls due to the risk of hidden underwater HM Coastguard spokesperson confirmed its rescue teams also attended, alongside ambulance crews. An RNLI spokesperson said in a social media post: "Hidden underwater hazards, sudden changes in water depth, strong tides, and the risk of cold water shock can all turn a split-second thrill into a tragedy. "Even experienced swimmers can get caught off guard."The spokesperson urged people to call 999 or 112 in a coastal emergency and ask for the coastguard.A coastguard spokesperson added: "Alerted at around 8.15pm, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Birling Gap and Eastbourne and an inshore lifeboat from Eastbourne RNLI were sent to the scene."The person was located and recovered to a place of safety before getting transferred to hospital."South East Coast Ambulance Service has been approached for comment.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Tourism chiefs tetchy as Edinburgh visitor levy nears
The Edinburgh tax will see a 5% fee applied to the cost of an overnight stay in the capital, capped at five nights in a row. Accommodation providers will be required to begin advertising the rate in October for stays starting from July 24 next year – slap bang in the middle of the 2026 summer tourist season. However, FSB development manager for east Scotland Garry Clark said there remain 'many unanswered questions about how it will operate'. He said: 'One thing concerning our members is that there is so much to do and little visible of sign progress in the last six months. To take just one example, they are still to see the payment platform which is being built especially for them to transfer to the local authority the levy funds they collect from visitors. 'Now, with just a year to go, the clock is ticking ever louder. It is a sign of just how worried they are that they are taking time out at one of their busiest times of year to raise the issue. 'It would go a long way to reassure the city's accommodation providers if the council takes steps now to provide these businesses with a detailed roadmap containing specific information on what they need to do and when, in order to ensure that preparations for the visitor levy run smoothly.' Read more: The FSB is not alone in highlighting concern. Shortly before its intervention, groups representing a wide range of the accommodation providers warned the current timeline 'places unnecessary and avoidable strain on the sector'. 'With less than three months remaining before accommodation providers must begin displaying levy-inclusive pricing, there is still no practical or technical guidance from the council or VisitScotland, despite assurances this would be received like the guidance that was published for local authorities back in October 2024,' said tourism industry groups in a letter to the leader of City of Edinburgh Council, Jane Meagher. 'While the levy may appear simple, its application is complex - particularly given the intricacies of accommodation pricing and booking systems. These challenges have been clearly communicated to the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, and the council and are at the heart of why guidance is imperative ahead of implementation. With no guidance, there can be no successful implementation.' Given the importance of tourism to Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole, it is to be hoped that City of Edinburgh Council is putting the finishing touches to the guidance, and is able to provide some much-needed reassurance to the industry soon. Elsewhere last week, the issue of the 'Scottish visa' returned to public discourse. As revealed by The Herald, a major survey of more than 500 businesses in Scotland found 70% are supportive of a Scottish visa to allow some migrants to come to work in Scotland to help ease skill shortages, as long as they live in the country and maintain a Scottish tax code. The latest Understanding Business survey, conducted by 56° North and Diffley Partnership, suggested Scottish employers are interested in a more flexible, regionally responsive immigration policy, particularly in light of workforce shortages and general economic pressures. Given the growing popularity of Reform among parts of the electorate, John Penman, managing partner at 56° North, suggested immigration could becoming a 'recurring theme' in the run-up to next year's election for the Scottish Parliament. Meanwhile, The Herald also revealed this week that the sale of a well-known building in the west end of Glasgow, formerly occupied by a charity that provided residential care for more than 200 years, has been sold, resulting in a £1 million windfall for a range of charities. Balmanno House, located on the corner of Great Western Road and Cleveden Road, fell into administration in April 2023 after facing "severe and unsustainable cash flow problems'. Now, following 'considerable' interest from prospective buyers, the building has been sold for residential development for an undisclosed sum. Blair Milne, head of restructuring and insolvency at Azets in Scotland, said: 'It gives me great pleasure to see such a substantial sum being made available for distribution to charity. It is very rare for all creditors to receive full repayment together with interest from any insolvency process, let alone such a substantial sum being made available to charities.'
