A weekend visit to one of Oregon's most photogenic swimming spots turned deadly Friday evening when a 21-year-old man from Kansas drowned after jumping into the cliff-ringed Blue Pool at Tamolitch Falls, authorities said. Friends tried to haul him toward shore as witnesses watched him struggle in the frigid water before going under. Emergency crews made the difficult trek to the remote site but were unable to revive him. Officials later identified the victim as Kenny Truong.
According to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, dispatchers received a 911 call at about 8:47 p.m. reporting that a man had jumped into the water at Tamolitch Falls and could not get out. Linn County and Lane County responders, along with Upper McKenzie Rural Fire, headed in together. Witnesses told deputies Truong appeared to be swimming toward shore when he began to struggle and then slipped beneath the surface.
Cliffs, Ice-Cold Water And No Cell Service
The McKenzie River Ranger District notes that the sheer rock walls around the pool range from 10 to 60 feet high, and the water averages just 37 degrees Fahrenheit, cold enough to cause immediate physical shock. The Willamette National Forest warns that visitors have been severely injured or killed at the site in the past and that cell reception is minimal to nonexistent, which can slow efforts to get someone to a hospital.
In a county statement, undersheriff Micah Smith said, "Our thoughts are with the family and friends" of Truong and urged visitors to fully understand the risks before going into the water, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office. KATU reported that people at the scene and first responders all tried to save Truong but could not, and noted that the falls sit off Highway 126.
Planned Upgrades Aim To Improve Safety
Officials have long wrestled with the crush of visitors and risky behavior at Blue Pool, a destination that draws crowds hungry for dramatic views and cliff jumps. The Willamette National Forest has launched a multi-million dollar overhaul to better control how people move through the area. Visit McKenzie River reports that the $3.4 million project is designed to funnel foot traffic into engineered overlooks, add safer parking off Highway 126 and reroute trails so visitors are less tempted to scramble along unstable cliff edges.
Forest and county officials say they hope the redesign will reduce serious incidents over time. Until that work is finished, they continue to press a simple message for anyone making the hike: stay away from the cliff edges and do not underestimate how fast Blue Pool's beautiful, near-freezing water can turn dangerous.
