21-year-old Oregan student dies after falling from scenic lookout spot while taking pictures
A 21-year-old university student has reportedly died after suffering a fall while trying to take a photograph at a scenic lookout point along Highway 101 which stretches from California to Washington, on the West coast of the US.
CNN reported that the student from Oregon has been identified as Michelle Casey, and police officials said that the young woman was seriously injured when she slipped and fell while taking pictures at Neahkahnie Mountain. The girl, who was majoring in kinesiology, reportedly landed on a tree when she fell, which stopped her from falling into the Pacific Ocean below.
According to a press release by local police, assistance for a rope rescue was called midmorning on Sunday, May 19. However, due to the difficult terrain, the team took several hours to reach the young girl, after which she was flown to a Portland hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries and died.
According to a family member's statement, as reported by KOIN, Casey had a "loving, giving heart". Her family said, "Michelle Casey was born in joy on Christmas Eve, 1997. From that moment, she was a gift to her family. Michelle always brought people together with her bubbly personality."
The statement continued: "She loved being outdoors and was at the beach — her favorite place — on Sunday." One of Casey's friends Tyson Zagelow also shared that the 21-year-old came from a loving family and sang in the choir. "I just want people to basically know that she's just the most loving person that I’ve probably ever known," he said.
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