Search and rescue personnel worked Tuesday to retrieve a body from a 50-foot waterfall in Washington's Olympic National Park.
The body is believed to be that of an 18-year-old who fell into Sol Duc Falls over the weekend. Witnesses said the young man was walking across the rocks at the top of the falls when he slipped. He resurfaced at the bottom of the waterfall but then disappeared. Late Monday, a park ranger found a body underwater pinned between the first and second falls.
The park’s swiftwater and rope rescue teams immediately began search and rescue operations. One team on the ground searched the riverbanks while thermal imaging was used to search the water. Several local agencies also responded to help.
The site remained closed Tuesday while operations continued. The team was expected to begin the retrieval process as soon as river conditions allowed them to safely do so. They faced multiple challenges, including:
- Significantly high river flows due to recent high temperatures that fueled rapid snowmelt.
- The target area is in a narrow canyon - a constriction point beneath the main falls - which increases the speed and force of the water.
- A second waterfall, whirlpool, and additional hazards downstream.
- Vertical, 50-foot cliffs covered in algae and moss.
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