Kentucky Man Killed After Falling From 177-Foot Oregon Waterfall While Posing for Photo

A 20-year-old Kentucky man, Zachary Nicholas Mertens of Burlington, died Aug. 10 after slipping over a barrier at the top of South Falls’ upper viewpoint and falling about 177 feet into the pool below at Silver Falls State Park, Oregon, around 6:30 p.m. He had crossed above the falls to pose for a photo; a visitor performed CPR, but he died at the scene. The Marion County Medical Examiner released his body to recovery crews. The incident follows other recent waterfall-related accidents in Oregon, including deaths and injuries at various falls.