A 19-year-old was swimming at a popular waterfall in Washington when he suffered a cramp and did not resurface, according to deputies.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident at Eagle Falls around 6:45 p.m. on June 12, according to a Facebook post.
Deputies say the man was swimming at the waterfall with friends.
When he cramped and went under the water, his friends attempted to assist him, according to deputies.
Rescuers found him and performed CPR for 20 minutes, but he died at the scene, according to deputies.
His body was brought to the medical examiner. The man’s identity has not been made public.
Is it safe to swim at Eagle Falls?
Eagle Falls flows into the South Fork Skykomish River on U.S. Route 2. The falls are about 55 miles northeast of Seattle.
Although there have been reports of people swimming in the area, deputies advise against it.
“The water has an extremely strong current beneath it that can pull down even the strongest swimmers.” “The water is fast,” the sheriff’s department stated in a 2021 Facebook post.
Authorities, who said they respond to rescue calls in the area every year, advise people to find alternative swimming spots and to always wear a life jacket.
According to McClatchy News, one of those calls concerned two men who fell into the waterfall in March.
Deputies said their bodies were found a day after they went missing in the water.
