A 16-year-old boy from Brooklyn died after jumping off a waterfall in upstate New York’s Catskills region.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident took place on August 8 around 3:21 pm. The teenager and a friend jumped from Fawn’s Leap, a known swimming location. Both faced difficulties due to the strong hydraulic currents created by the waterfall. While a bystander managed to rescue the friend, the teenager could not be saved.
The boy’s body was later located by divers from multiple agencies. His identity remains undisclosed.
This incident is the third rescue operation at Fawn’s Leap in just over two weeks. Rescuers had to rappel down a cliff to save an injured swimmer on July 26, and a day earlier, 16 people had to be helped after torrential rains raised water levels at the Leap and nearby Rat’s Hole. The Department of Environmental Conservation highlighted the need for safety during summer recreational activities.
Fawn’s Leap, with its 24-foot waterfall, attracts many visitors. Videos of jumps from the falls are popular on platforms like TikTok, some of which come with safety warnings.
