Yosemite visitor dies after being swept over nearly 600ft waterfall | California

Authorities confirmed this week that a 22-year-old visitor to Yosemite national park in California died after being swept over a 594ft-high waterfall on Saturday.

While taking photos, park resident Fresia Gaul noticed the man, identified by local authorities as Josue Baires Alfaro, in the Merced River.

Galya said he didn’t look like a “strong swimmer” SFGate. Galya, a former volunteer lifeguard, jumped into the water in the hope of saving herself.

“People see that the water is calm, but they don’t realize there’s a big undertow underneath that,” he said.

“When you see someone like that, when you make direct eye contact with someone you know they’re going to walk over, you can’t turn around.”

SFGate reported that in the turbulent waters, Gaul was unable to reach Alfaro and struggled to stay afloat. He thought his chances of survival were slim, until a bystander revealed the cane he was holding on to avoid going over Nevada Falls.

National Park Service launches investigation into Alfaro’s death, Los Angeles Times reports reported.

Located about three and a half hours east of San Francisco, Yosemite national park is one of America’s most visited parks, attracting approximately 4 million visitors annually. It is a popular destination for hiking, water activities and cycling.

There have been many fatal accidents in the park.

A 19-year-old teenager from California died in 2013 swimming On the Merced River. He was swept away by the current towards the edge of Nevada Falls.

An Israeli teenager died in 2018 plunge 800 ft down the cliff while taking a selfie near Nevada Falls.

The National Park Service warned parkgoers to use “extreme caution” near flowing water or wet rocks in that area.