A Texas teen plunged off a 50-foot waterfall to his dying whereas on a visit together with his mates celebrating their highschool commencement at Washington state’s Olympic Nationwide Park.
Grant Herridge, who attended Vanguard Faculty Preparatory in Waco, Texas, had traveled to the Olympic Nationwide Park within the northwest nook of Washington with mates after graduating highschool per week earlier.
The teenager was strolling on the rocks on the high of one of many waterfalls on the Sol Duc Falls when he slipped and fell into the pool of water beneath on June 8, the Nationwide Park Service stated.
Witnesses stated Herridge resurfaced on the backside of the waterfall, solely to submerge underwater once more.
Herridge’s father, Brad Herridge – a pastor on the Ocker Brethern Church – confirmed his son’s dying in a heartbreaking Fb put up.
“Grant was doing what he loved, hiking through Olympic National Park, and had a tragic accident,” the grieving father wrote. “He was always so full of life and we are going to honor him by living life to the fullest in the future. Please continue to pray for us as we struggle to live life without him.”
Park rangers and search and rescue crews rushed to the falls within the expansive wilderness within the park, however didn’t uncover his physique till the following day.
Herridge, a rising freshman at Baylor College in Waco, was discovered utterly submerged and pinned beneath the water between the 2 falls.
Herridge was remembered as an adventurous outdoorsman, dwelling by the motto inscribed on a hoop he wore, “while we wait for life, life passes,” Brad Herridge advised KWTX.
Officers have confronted harmful situations recovering Herridge’s physique due to the excessive river move within the roughly eight-foot canyon.
Rangers and rescue groups tried to get well Herridge on two separate makes an attempt however confronted elevated water speeds close to the restoration website due to the hotter temperatures and fast snowmelt.
“The park’s priority is to safely complete this recovery as soon as conditions allow. Rangers will continue to monitor the target area, natural hazards, and changing conditions. Recovery operations will resume when it is safe to do so,” officers stated in an replace Tuesday.
Herridge’s dream of attending Baylor was impressed by his dad and mom, who’re alumni of the non-public Christian college.
“He had wanted to go to Baylor his whole life” Brad Herridge advised the outlet. “His mom and I graduated from Baylor, his mom works for Baylor… so Baylor’s like in his heart.”
Baylor honored Herridge earlier than internet hosting a service at its guests middle on Wednesday.
“Our hearts are shattered for the Herridge family in the tragic passing of their son Grant, who was an incoming freshman and shining light in Baylor’s Class of 2029. It is difficult to express the depth of our sorrow for Mary, Brad and Lucy, but our Baylor Family has come together to surround them in our deepest prayers and support as they navigate this unimaginable loss,” the college stated in a press release obtained by KWTX.
The “Grant Herridge Memorial Scholarship at Baylor University” was created after the tragic accident.
“Grant’s life on Earth ended much too soon, but through your generosity, his life will continue to impact generations,” the scholarship’s poster said.
