Conly Warren Ruff plunges 150ft to his death getting too close to edge while going for evening hike along Utah’s Hurricane Overlook.
A Utah teen has died after plunging off a cliff during a hike. The 17 year old’s death is the second hiking fatality in less than eight days in the state.
Conly Warren Ruff died Saturday after ‘slipping and falling’ approximately 150ft off a cliff at Hurricane Overlook while climbing near the edge at approximately 5.27pm, according to a press release from the Hurricane City Police Department.
Posted the victim’s mother, Sara Gleason Ruff on Facebook, ‘It devastates us to announce the untimely death of our dear son and brother.’
First responders were informed of the fall just before 5:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, February 18th, the HCPD said.
Crews reached the male victim ‘within 15 minutes,’ but learned the teen did not survive the fall, according to Saturday’s press release.
BREAKING: A 17-year-old boy died after falling off a cliff while climbing the Hurricane Overlook Saturday evening. Police are not releasing the identity of the victim at this time.
📷: Chaice Moyes
Read More: https://t.co/obd0zIuAkU pic.twitter.com/VIuTuQKDV6
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) February 19, 2023
Heartbreak and grief
Ruff, a student at Hurricane High School, was reportedly with a friend when he tumbled over the edge of the cliff. It remained unclear how the teen came to be on the precipice of cliff’s edge and what safety protocol were being observed.
Police said the victim hailed from LaVerkin, Utah.
‘We wish to offer our prayers and sincerest condolences to his family and friends after this tragic accident,’ the HCPD said following Saturday’s incident.
The Washington County School District in a statement said that its crisis team will be available at Hurricane High on Tuesday.
‘It’s always heartbreaking to lose a student from our community,’ the district said. ‘There really are no words of comfort to help relieve the grief and pain.’
An investigation into Saturday’s accident is ongoing, according to the HCPD.
Saturday’s deadly hiking incident was the second in eight days in Utah.
On Feb. 10, 17-year-old Zoe McKinney died after she slipped and fell about 30 feet off a cliff while hiking with friends on the Moab Rim Trail.
The teen’s friends called 911 for help after her fall, but the teen was reportedly dead by the time rescuers were able to reach her.
