In upstate New York, a tragic incident unfolded as a 16-year-old boy hailing from New York City met his untimely demise in an apparent drowning episode.

Authorities revealed on Wednesday that the young teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed, lost his life while engaging in a daring leap from a waterfall ledge.

The unfortunate incident transpired at Fawn’s Leap, a prominent waterfall situated along Kaaterskill Creek in the Catskill Mountains.

The Athens Volunteer Fire Department communicated through a news release posted on Facebook that the teenager, hailing from Brooklyn, had joined a friend in leaping from the apex of the 24-foot waterfall.

Over time, this cliff has evolved into a favored jumping location for visitors, some of whom have documented and shared their escapades online, CBS News reported.

According to the account provided by authorities, the teenager, accompanied by a group of friends from Brooklyn, was swimming in the water area beneath the falls on Tuesday.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., he and a companion simultaneously took the plunge from Fawn’s Leap, making contact with the water near one side of the falls’ base.

Struggling to navigate the potent hydraulic current generated by the waterfall, both individuals found themselves ensnared.

Despite the valiant efforts of another swimmer who managed to rescue the teenager’s friend, the 16-year-old unfortunately remained beyond reach and succumbed to the powerful currents.

A collaborative operation involving divers from the New York State Police, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, and the Athens Fire Department culminated in the recovery of the teenager’s lifeless body.

Regrettably, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The sheriff’s office has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking incident.

Written by staff