The incident occurred at a spot commonly known as Blue Pool, where deaths have previously occurred
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- Kenny Truong, 21, died after jumping into the cold waters of Tamolitch Falls in Oregon, authorities said
- The area, also known as Blue Pool, has seen multiple fatalities due to its dangerous conditions and limited cell service
- Over $21,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe to support Truong’s family following his tragic death
A 21-year-old college student has died after jumping into a chilly basin at a national forest in Oregon that is infamous for previous deaths.
Linn County Undersheriff Micah Smith said dispatch received a 911 call regarding the incident at 8:47 p.m. on Friday, June 26, according to a press release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office.
The caller said a man had jumped into the water at Tamolitch Falls in Willamette National Forest and was not able to get out, authorities said.
Witnesses allegedly claimed that the man, identified by the sheriff's office as 21-year-old Kenny Truong, of Kansas, struggled in the water as he swam toward shore before becoming submerged.
“Despite the best efforts of those at Tamolitch Falls who tried to help him, and the first responders who arrived in response to the 911 call, Kenny did not survive,” officials added.
Truong's LinkedIn page notes that he was studying business at Wichita State University, according to ABC affiliate KAKE and the Eugene Register-Guard.
More than $21,000 has been raised through a verified GoFundMe fundraiser launched to support his family following his death.
“He was admirable in the truest sense of the word. A bright soul that this world needed more of,” an organizer wrote in the tribute's description. “And losing him has left a hole in our hearts that words honestly can't fill.”
The incident occurred at a spot off Highway 126 that is commonly known as Blue Pool, according to the sheriff's office.
Truong “was visiting the area with friends when he decided to jump into the pool,” officials added.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office and Upper McKenzie Rural Fire joined the sheriff's office in responding to the scene.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office said these agencies have responded to the scene “many times before,” noting that many people have died there in the past.
“The cliffs surrounding the pool rise between 10 and 60 feet,” the agency stated in its release.
They also said the water's temperature averages about 37 degrees Fahrenheit, which the Lane County Sheriff's Office said is “cold enough to cause immediate physical shock upon entry.”
The sheriff's office also noted that there is “minimal to no cell phone reception in the area,” meaning it can take hours for first responders to reach the victims and get them to a hospital.
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Now, the agency is urging everyone planning to visit Tamolitch Falls “to go with that knowledge” in mind.
“Understand the risks before you enter the water,” the agency said, adding, “Look out for the people you came with.”
Anyone with questions about conditions at the pool is asked to contact the McKenzie River Ranger Station at (541) 822-3381 or visit their website.
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