A 20-year-old Northern Kentucky man died Monday after falling more than 175 feet from a waterfall in Oregon.

Oregon State Police said Zachary Mertens fell from the top of South Falls at Silver Falls State Park after entering a closed area to take photos.

Troopers and deputies responded to the park around 6:30 p.m. following reports of the fall.

Mertens was a 2025 graduate of Bellevue High School in Kentucky, WLWT 5 has reported.

School officials expressed their condolences and asked the community to support Mertens’ family and friends during the difficult time.