A 16-year-old American girl tragically fell more than 300 feet to her death while hiking with her best friend’s family in Switzerland, according to police reports.
The incident occurred on Sunday at approximately 10:30 a.m. on the “Gorges Mystérieuses” hiking trail in Trient, according to a news release from Valais police.
The unidentified teenager fell around 320 feet down an embankment “for reasons that are still unclear,” police stated. Despite efforts from rescue services, she was found deceased in the riverbed of “Le Trient” below the hiking trail.
The father of the girl’s best friend attempted to rescue her after the fall, police said. He was eventually rescued unharmed from a rock wall where he had become stuck.
The U.S. Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Office confirmed the death of the young American and is providing appropriate consular assistance. “We mourn with the family who lost a loved one on June 9, 2024, in Valais, Switzerland,” a spokesperson told. “Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we will not be making any further comments.”
The public prosecutor’s office, in cooperation with Valais police, has launched an investigation into the girl’s death.
