LAKE TOXAWAY – A man fell to his death at Raven Rock Falls at Lake Toxaway on Tuesday evening after he attempted to rescue his friend who had fallen from the top of the waterfall, authorities said.
The first male fell from the top of the falls and landed on a ledge about a quarter of the way down, said Lt. Terry Crow with Lake Toxaway Fire Rescue. The second person tried to climb down to help his friend, but slipped and fell to the ground.
Authorities estimate the top of the waterfall to be 150 feet from the ground.
Officials suspect the man died as a result of the impact of the fall. The surviving victim was rescued and transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, but later died, said Chief Deputy Eddie Gunner with the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office.
The victims were identified as Davis Ilan Zinsenheim, 22, who was found deceased at the bottom of the fall, and Joseph Harper Hopkins, 23, who later died, Gunner said.
Both victims were from Marietta, Georgia visiting a resident at Lake Toxaway, Gunner said. While the resident was out the two men were exploring the waterfall, which was on the homeowner’s property, when the accident happened.
It took authorities about two hours to rescue the surviving victim and retrieve the body after an initial call was reported to authorities at 7:34 p.m.
About 30 personnel from several agencies assisted in the rescue, Crow said.
Rescuers climbed down the left hand side of the mountain and onto the ledge to rescue the victim. Then, he was placed in a basket and lowered down to a ladder truck that was placed near the bottom of the falls, Crow said.
The body was transported to Transylvania Regional Hospital where a medical assessment was performed, he added.
Three individuals were at the top of the waterfall Tuesday evening, but only two were involved in the accident, Crow said. Authorities don’t know what they were doing at the top of the falls since it's on private property.
Officials say, to their knowledge dating back 30 years, this is the first accident to occur at Raven Rock Falls and urge people to be smart when they are close to waterfalls.
“They’re beautiful to look at, but dangerous to get close to,” Crow said. “People need to be very careful when they get close to a waterfall. (People) just don’t realize how dangerous it can be getting close to the edge of these falls and how dangerous one little slip can be.”
Several agencies aided in the rescue including Transylvania County Emergency Management, law enforcement officials, Brevard Fire Department, Rosman Fire Department and other agencies in northern Transylvania County.
