The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death of a 22-year-old man who was swept over Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park on Saturday, June 20th.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the victim, who fell into the Merced River and was carried over the 594-foot waterfall was identified as Josue Baires Alfaro.. His city of residence has not been released.
“Emergency personnel responded to the incident, which remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.” – NPS spokesperson
Witness accounts posted to social media in the hours after the incident described a harrowing scene near the top of Nevada Fall, where multiple people were reportedly dragged by the current. According to one Reddit user who said they were present, a girl and another individual were carried downriver. Bystanders were able to rescue the girl by extending a branch, but the other individual was swept over the fall.
A rescue helicopter arrived at the scene roughly an hour after the incident, with crews searching the water below. On Sunday, June 21st, a separate Reddit user reported observing a Yosemite rescue crew carrying a body bag on a stretcher down the Mist Trail. It was not immediately clear whether that observation was connected to the Alfaro incident.
Nevada Fall sits along the popular Vernal and Nevada Fall Trail, one of Yosemite’s most heavily trafficked routes during the summer months. Snowmelt this time of year can cause river levels and currents to remain dangerously elevated well into the season.
The National Park Service has not released additional information beyond confirming the incident is under investigation.
Our deepest condolences are with the friends and family of the deceased at this time.
