Silver Falls State Park visitor dies in 177-foot waterfall fall

A 20-year-old man, identified as Zachary Nicholas Mertens of Burlington, Kentucky, died after falling 177 feet from the top of South Falls at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon on August 10.

According to Oregon State Police, the incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. when Mertens entered a closed area near the top of the waterfall to pose for photographs. He reportedly crossed a barrier and lost his footing, plunging into the pool below. Although bystanders attempted to assist him with CPR, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Marion County Search and Rescue assisted in recovering the body from the base of the falls. Park officials noted that the area where the fall occurred had been cordoned off to prevent visitors from approaching the slippery edges, despite warning signs and barriers intended to keep the public away from the off-limits upper viewpoint.