July 8, 2009
Waterfall Accidents An Unnecessary Tragedy
Update 7/23/2009: two more waterfall accidents happened just this week; luckily both individuals survived. A 14-year old boy fell off Triple Falls near Brevard while a 21-year old girl fell off Glen Falls near Highlands. This marks the second accident at Glen Falls this year. We wish both people a full and speedy recovery, and hope they’ll join the campaign to help keep people safe when visiting waterfalls after they do so.
With dozens of confirmed waterfall deaths in Western North Carolina since the year 2000, our hearts go out to those affected by these tragedies and we hope everyone involved will stay strong during their time of grief. But I think we as a society have to pull out a little bit of harsh reality and look at this situation from a different angle for once.
Waterfall injuries and even deaths are far too common, and it is absolutely senseless that anyone should have to suffer like this in connection with one of nature’s most beautiful creations. Historically, people are injured and die each year at North Carolina’s many waterfalls and others around the world, and all of the occurrences have a common thread: the person slips and falls at the top of the falls, or (more rarely) is swept over the falls or pinned underwater by a strong current. All judgment aside for anyone who’s ever been hurt at a waterfall, this message is to anyone who is considering doing it in the future. Folks, the solution to this is pretty simple.
Do not EVER put yourself in a situation where a slip could send you over a waterfall. Do not climb across the creek at the top of a falls. Do not swim in a pool right above a waterfall. Do not climb the rocks beside a waterfall. Do not wade or swim in swift water around waterfalls. Just use common sense!
Accidents do happen. And sometimes, there’s nothing that could have been done to prevent a tragedy – a true accident. But in almost every case – and this goes for more than just waterfall incidents – this kind of thing can be traced back to the actions of the people involved, which, had they done something differently or not done something senseless at all, the “accident” would never have happened.
I would think that people’s self-preservation instinct would tell them this already. But apparently not. Nothing except perhaps drunk driving burns me up more than people falling off a waterfall. The sad thing is that if you aren’t concerned about your own life enough to keep from deliberately putting yourself in danger, you might not think to care enough about your family who must suffer the tremendous emotional and perhaps financial consequences of your decision, the rescue workers who risk their own lives to haul you out of the woods, or the innocent bystanders who just don’t deserve to have to watch someone suffer a horrible death on what should have been a pleasant hike to the waterfall!
Consider the death of a man at Moore Cove Falls in 2006. As if this wasn’t bad enough, it happened directly in front of his new fiancé and other families and children who were visiting the falls that day. And regarding your kids, you might think “well they’re young, and fearless – I’m not going to do it but they can go ahead and climb up to the top”. But what about when they get in trouble? Are you willing to risk the pain to your family if something were to happen to them? Or having to put yourself in danger to save them? Keep your kids in safe areas, too!
I originally wrote this article back in 2007. It’s 2009 now, and we had several waterfall deaths last year and already a couple this year. I’m reminded of a recent trip to Big Laurel Falls, when another family arrived at the falls just after mine. The kids went straight from the trail up a scramble path leading up slick rocks to the top of the waterfall, with flimsy rhododendron branches being all that was keeping them from plummeting to the hard rocks below. Without even stopping for 30 seconds to enjoy the beauty of the falls from safety! And on the previous weekend, a man who drowned after saving the life of his son, who got trapped in the swift current above the falls.
It’s your choice, but this is one mistake you won’t have a chance to learn from, because you won’t be alive after making it. Most of our waterfalls are already named, one at least of someone who died after falling over them (Mitchell Falls). But we won’t be renaming any of them after you when you fall!
brittany said,
November 17, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
wow, reading this makes me understand why i question humanity and the lack of compassion this society has. ever heard of an accident? they happen everyday. i have to wonder if you witnessed this accident, since you seem so sure that common sense was not used. were you there? your insensitive comments are unappreciated and unwarrented. i wonder how you can write such hurtful things, mr. mitchell. just remember that your sarcastic comments are hurtful to those who were friends and family of this man. i just hope that after all they’ve already been through, especially his fiance who i’m sure was traumatized after witnessing this accident, never have to read your comments.
Jordan Mitchell said,
November 22, 2007 @ 11:23 am
Brittany,
I understand how you could see this post as being insensitive or un-compassionate. However, the point of it is not to be hurtful, or sarcastic. The point is to bring to light a harsh reality – as I stated – that this kind of accident is unnecessary. Any kind of outdoor recreational activities are risky, and yes, accidents do happen. I have nothing but compassion for the family and the observers involved in this case. This post isn’t meant for them and honestly I hope they never have to read it either. But what about the families of those who inevitably will do this again in the future?
Falling off the top of a waterfall is no more an accident than getting behind the wheel while drunk, and then crashing. It’s a conscious decision that is made and it’s a tragedy to everyone else involved. Unfortunately, I don’t have to witness a waterfall accident – nor a drunk driving crash – to know with certainty that common sense was discarded.
mary said,
July 7, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Some folks aren’t that aware or experienced regarding waterfalls and think that they are being careful. I had no idea my mother’s dog would go out to the middle of the small river to get a drink of water, lose it’s balance, and they send us all desperately trying to fish him out of the water before he went over Rainbow Falls. Fortunately, he did make it out, but it shocked me witnessing him go downriver without any control. Of course, we live and learn and I’ll never let a dog go out with me without a leash. But who would have known? It’s so customary to let dogs go without leashes out there and I’ve been to Rainbow Falls hiking a hundred times, but I could have easily gotten dragged in with everyone else.
Jordan Mitchell said,
August 21, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
That does bring up a good point. My dog actually slid down a small waterfall once, one of the first times we went hiking. She just went right out on the rock, and slid right down! It was cold – in the 30’s – and she didn’t really like it, and trust me, she’s more careful now. She learned. But make sure you do what you can to protect your dogs while out on the trails, too.
Hopefully, as smart as humans are, we can learn from other peoples’ (and dogs’) mistakes and *not* make them on our own. Just don’t go out on the rocks above a waterfall. Ever. And you’ll be OK.
I watched a video of a guy in Costa Rica slapping the water of a crocodile-infested river with a chicken, prompting the beasts to swim over and lunge at the raw meat. I don’t even *need* to see something bad happen to know that it’s not a good idea. I guess my brain just works better than a dog’s. (I know my dog, and she’d probably run right up to the croc’s mouth and jump in).