Hiker, cliff jumper, rescued at Gunlock Falls on Saturday
Jun 17, 2023, 6:39 PM
Gunlock Falls in Gunlock State Park is pictured. Two people were rescued after jumping or falling from cliffs on Saturday. (Bob Grove/Road Trippin with Bob and Mark)
(Bob Grove/Road Trippin with Bob and Mark)
HURRICANE, Utah — Two people were rescued on Saturday after two different accidents at Gunlock Falls near St. George, Utah.
The first was a man in his 40s according to the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
“He fell off one of the cliffs near the falls,” Deputy Jacob Paul told KSL. Officials believe this man may have hit a side wall as he fell.
“He had two possible broken legs and a possible broken jaw,” Paul said.
People who saw what happened helped to pull the man to the side of the water. Later, a rescue helicopter landed on the dam and transported him to a nearby hospital.
Paul said that, though this man was badly injured, he is expected to survive.
Woman may have jumped into shallow water at Gunlock Falls
In the second case, an 18-year-old woman was cliff-jumping from a 50-foot cliff into the lower pools of Gunlock Falls.
Paul said the area where the woman was jumping wasn’t a good place for cliff-jumping.
“We’re not sure whether she hit a rock or just picked a spot that was not deep enough,” he said. “It’s not a great area for cliff jumping but people do it all the time.”
A group of the woman’s friends pulled her to the bank. She was later transported by a rescue helicopter in stable condition.
Multiple rescue agencies, including Washington County Search and Rescue, Utah State Parks, UHP Air Bureau, as well as fire departments from Santa Clara, Ivins, Gunlock, and Brookside all assisted with the two rescues.
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