Global Courant
A 41-year-old man hiking at a popular waterfall in Oregon died over the weekend when he tripped and fell 200 feet off a cliff, authorities said Monday.
The hiker, identified as Gerardo Hernandez-Rodriguez, was found dead at the base after rescuers responded Saturday afternoon to reports of his fall near Multnomah Falls, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“It is estimated that Hernandez fell nearly 200 feet,” the agency said. “It is believed that alcohol abuse was likely a contributing factor in the fall.”
NBC affiliate KGW from Portland reported that Hernandez was a father of five.
He was on a trail near Benson Bridge when he fell, the sheriff’s office said. Sheriff’s deputies, a U.S. Forest Service ranger, and first responders from the Corbett Fire District launched a search and rescue operation.
The sheriff’s office described the terrain as “inaccessible” and “steep”.
A deputy sheriff found Hernandez’s body along the Historic Columbia River Highway, directly below his fall, it said.
Located 30 miles east of Portland, the 620-foot Multnomah Falls is part of the Columbia River Gorge. It has the distinction of being the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest, according to the US Forest Service.
The sheriff’s office urged visitors to take the area’s trails seriously by preparing for rough terrain and studying a map beforehand.
“It’s not a paved path,” Deputy John Plock told KGW. “This is a hiking trail, so we encourage people to be prepared for a real hike.”
