A Utah teenager plunged hundreds of feet to his death when he stopped to take photos with friends at a scenic overlook and fell over the side, officials said.
Jonathan Fielding, 19, a thrill seeker, died Saturday in what authorities believe was an accident while he was hiking near the Moonscape Overlook, KUTV reported.
Fielding, an avid photographer, and two friends went to take pictures near the edge of the cliff when Fielding lost his footing on shaky ground and went over the edge of the canyon as he tried to find a better spot, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, per the station, and the family said.
Fielding recently moved to the Beehive State from Missouri where he started a new job.
“He found a great group of friends and a group of support,” family friend Connor Parry told the outlet. “He’s a special kid, and it’s important to keep the energy and smile he brings to every conversation.”
Jonathan Fielding died tragically on Saturday. Rebecca Fielding
His family said in his obituary that despite his sudden death, they take comfort in knowing he was “doing what he loved at the time of the accident.”
“He was posing with friends in the beautiful Utah wilderness where he loved to be,” the family said.
The 19-year-old is adventurous and likes climbing. Rebecca Fielding
Rebecca Fielding, the victim’s sister, told ABC 4 he was killed instantly after falling about 300 feet.
He drove to Utah following his brother’s death to see where he fell and found the cliff “deceptive” because the ground looked solid — but was actually fragile.
“The biggest thing I can do to support my family is to spread awareness about climbing safety. So many people take risks, so many people just want that perfect picture, that perfect view, but it’s not worth anyone’s life,” he told the station.
The incident happened near the Moonscape Overlook. @bsj1701 / TripAdvisor
“I don’t think many people realize how dangerous the area is, it’s very easy to slip and fall,” he said.
Fielding grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri where he competed in the pole vault in high school and earned the title of Eagle Scout while in the Boy Scouts, according to his biography.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is dedicated to various community service projects.
He is remembered for how much he cared about others. GoFundMe
“Jonathan is a fun-loving, intelligent young man who has developed some unique talents. He had big dreams and hopes focused on sales,” his loved ones wrote in an online tribute.
“More important than his dreams and plans for the future, however, Jonathan is a good person. Jonathan really cares about other people.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
