UPDATE @ 6:30 p.m. (June 1): The young photographer who fell into the river at Clifton Gorge after snapping his photo is likely to be charged with criminal trespass because he went off trail, Miami Twp. Fire Chief Colin Altman said.
The young man, believed to be in his 20s, wasn’t injured, the chief said, but was a little frightened after his ordeal.
“From what we’re hearing, he went off trail, which is against the rules, to get a picture. When he made it to a slippery rock area, he slipped and fell into the river,” Chief Altman said. The man fell 10 to 15 feet.
Because he didn’t suffer any injuries, rescuers had a little more time to effect the rescue, the chief.
The rescue took about two hours because he was below a rock ledge. He got himself almost to the bottom to get his photo, then slipped and fell. He ended up about 40 feet below the trail, Altman said.
Altman said that while Miami Twp. trains for such incidents, their lives would be made easier if people would stay on the trails.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which had a boat and crew on scene, will have the final say as to what the appropriate criminal charge will be, Altman said.
UPDATE @ 6:22 p.m.: The photographer who slipped on an overhang at Clifton Gorge and fell into the water has been rescued.
UPDATE @ 5:49 p.m.: The man went over a railing at Clifton Gorge and was climbing down to snap photographs when he slipped on an overhang and fell into the water.
The man is in the water, underneath the overhang. He is wearing a life jacket and two rescuers are with him. There are as many as 14 other rescue personnel on the trail where he slipped and fell.
The rescue involving firefighter/paramedics from Miami Twp., Clark County sheriff’s deputies and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is continuing.
UPDATE @ 5:03 p.m.: A man went off a trail to take pictures in the Gorge and found he could not get out and called for help, according to officials.
Crews are working to rescue the man who is believed to be about 30 feet down the trail.
The man is not injured, officials said.
FIRST REPORT
Firefighters are working on a reported rope rescue at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve.
We have a photographer heading to the scene and will update this developing report.
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