Reports indicate that a college student, Katherine Vollmer, has met a tragic fate after falling off a 150-foot cliff while out on a hike with her friends in Hasbrouck Park in Kingston.
The young woman was only 20 years old at the time of the incident, and she was with several classmates exploring the local caves and trails.
However, at one point, they got lost while making their way back to their rides and found themselves walking over a cliff edge in the darkness.
At some point, Vollmer lost her balance and fell, with reports claiming that the incident occurred at around 9:50 in the evening.
Making matters worse, the fall took her to a very dangerous area, difficult to navigate area, which required an experienced team to rappel down to recover her.
By the time her body was found, it was already morning. Rescue workers were only able to pronounce her dead upon discovering her, and have not released any more information about the incident than that.
The girl does seem to have been very adventurous, with various photos from previous hiking trips posted on her social media accounts, including one in which she was mocking a warning sign in Iceland.
People close to her have explained that she was indeed very active and caring, and many were stunned by the fact that she lost her life in such a manner.
A lot of friends and relatives have taken to social media to express their condolences.
One person stated: “Your kindness inspired me to be a better person. You’ll live on through all the people you’ve touched. ❤️”
A second follower continued with: “Rest easy!! we love and miss you so much! You will never be forgotten! soar as high as we know you can.”
A third comment read: “I didn’t know you, but I watched the search and rescue efforts all night & all morning just hoping beyond hope that it would have a happy ending. To Katherine’s family & friends, I send my deepest condolences and so much love. I may not have known her, but my heart is shattered for you all. ??
SUNY New Paltz President Donald P. Christian also said in a statement: “We extend our deepest sympathy to Katherine’s family and friends and to the students, faculty, and staff who knew her.”
Authorities have taken the opportunity to warn people to pay extra attention to challenging conditions like these.
