A tourist drowned in Arizona’s Fossil Creek Wilderness just moments after happily jumping off a waterfall and flashing a thumbs up.
Wei-Jie Lin, 25, jumped into the Fossil Creek Lower Waterfalls just before 12pm on Sunday March 22 before he tragically drowned.
Lin, from Taiwan, had emerged from below the waters after jumping off the 15-foot waterfall, according to a release from the Gila County Sheriff’s Office.
He even gave a thumbs up to onlookers. But as he continued swimming, Lin went underneath the waterfall and was pulled under, remaining submerged for at least ten minutes.
Onlookers then pulled him from the water and attempted life-saving measures, but he did not regain consciousness.
The sheriff’s office arrived on scene with the Tonto Rim Search and Rescue and the Pine-Strawberry Fire Department to find Lin already deceased.
‘As we move into the warmer months, we are seeing an increase in visitors to Fossil Creek, including the Lower Falls and the “toilet bowl” area,’ the Tonto Rim Search and Rescue wrote on Facebook.
‘While these locations are incredibly beautiful, they can also be very dangerous.’
Wei-Jie Lin, 25, jumped into the Fossil Creek Lower Waterfalls just before 12pm on Sunday March 22 before he tragically drowned
The sheriff’s office arrived on scene with the Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, seen above, and the Pine-Strawberry Fire Department to find Lin already deceased
Lin was pulled under after swimming underneath the waterfall and remained submerged for at least ten minutes
The non-profit organization advised visitors that the hike, both in and out, can be ‘very strenuous’ particularly in the heat and that water conditions can change quickly.
It also said that strong currents, submerged hazards and slippery rock surfaces are a common occurrence.
‘We encourage everyone to enjoy the area responsibly, be prepared and understand the risks especially when recreating near or in the water,’ it added.
‘Sheriff [J Adam] Shepard would like to thank the Tonto Rim Search and Rescue Team, the Pine-Strawberry Fire Department, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens who assisted during the incident,’ the sheriff’s office said in a release.
‘[He] also would like to send his condolences to the family and friends of Wei-Jie Lin.’
The Coconino National Forest is home to the Fossil Creek Lower Waterfalls, where around 20,000 gallons of water runs from springs to the bottom of a 1,600-foot canyon, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
