13-06-2025
Teenager killed at Sol Duc Falls in Washington after slipping on rocks
An 18-year-old man has died after slipping and falling at a popular tourist attraction in Washington.
The teenager, whose identity hasn't been released by authorities, was walking across the rocks at the top of the 50-foot Sol Duc Falls when he lost balance, according to the National Park Service.
Witnesses told park rangers that the teen fell into the water and resurfaced at the bottom of the falls before fully submerging on June 8.
The Olympic National Park Search and Rescue Team responded to the tragedy, using thermal imaging to scan the water as a ground team searched the riverbanks.
His body was found pinned between two falls one day later, and the park was closed to initiate the rescue mission.
On Tuesday, SAR teams collaborated with local authorities, including Forks Ambulance, Forks Swiftwater, Olympic Ambulance, Clallam County Fire District 2, the Port Townsend and Sequim Police Departments, and the Clallam County Sheriff's Office to safely recover the teen's body.
Port Townsend Chief of Police Thomas A. Olson told that their department assisted with drones, but the victim had been located before their arrival.
The National Park Service said that the rescue mission was complicated due to recent high temperatures and rapid snowmelt that created high river flows in the area.
The teen fell in a dangerous area with 50-foot cliffs covered in algae and a strong whirlpool at the bottom of the falls.
The area where authorities responded was also in a narrow canyon with a strong water flow.
The National Park Service also noted additional hazards downstream from the area and said rescue operations would begin when the river conditions 'allow for a safe and successful recovery.'
reached out to the NPS for an update on the search, but didn't immediately hear back.
Deputy Coroner Rebecca Shankles with the Clallam County Coroner's Office told that the NPS is the investigating agency and information on the victim's identity would be released by the park.
A post claiming to be the victim's cousin said the victim had just graduated HS and had been accepted at Baylor University.
'The son of a Pastor, he was out in the world for the first time in his life and paid with his life for a tragic mistake,' they wrote.
'Every parents worst nightmare happened, they got that knock on the door from the Police.
'He was deeply loved and the void his parents, his 14 yr old sister and grandma feel is immense.
'A special heartfelt thank you for the NPS personnel and all the teams of rescue people who found and recovered his body so his parents can bring their boy home.'
Sol Duc Falls has an elevation of 200 feet with a hiking trail of 1.6 miles, round-trip, according to the Washington Trails Association.
The falls split into at least four channels and cascade down a 50-foot, narrow, rocky canyon. As of Wednesday, the WTA listed the trail as closed to the public until further notice.
reached out to the Clallam County Sheriff's Office for additional information on the case, but didn't immediately hear back.
