A 16-year-old teen sacrificed her own life to save her 11-year-old sister from falling down North Carolina’s Rainbow Falls at Gorges State Park in the Pisgah National Forest during the 4th of July holiday on Wednesday.
The tragic incident occurred around noon when the teen, identified as H’Money Siu, tried to save her sister by helping her get out of the pool above the falls, but was swept over the edge.
An older family member was successful in grabbing the 11-year-old girl, but was not able to save Siu as she had fallen into the river about 120 to 150 feet (36.5 – 45.7 meters) above the waterfall in Transylvania County, according to a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman, Fox News reported.
More than 40 agencies joined in to find Siu including forest services and multiple volunteer fire departments. Around 100 people were also evacuated in the area during the search. Her body was found by divers about four nad a half hours after she vanished from the fall, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The location where the accident happened was about 150 miles (241 kilometers) away from her family’s home in Charlotte. They are originally from Vietnam.
Siu’s case marks as the sixth waterfall-related death in western North Carolina this year. Visitors and tourists are being urged by the safety officials to practice caution especially when near dangerous waterfalls, according to Fox Carolina.
Featured image screenshot via Fox46
