Crews working to recover body at Palouse Falls

The Franklin County Sherifff’s Office said Thursday evening that it was working to recover the body of a 26-year-old man who fell into Palouse Falls earlier in the afternoon.

Sheriff Jim Raymond told the Tri-Cities’ KAPP television station that he believes the man is from Kennewick. The 26-year-old was standing near a ledge about 100 feet above the water when the ground collapsed beneath him, Raymond told the TV station.

The Spokesman-Review was unable to reach Raymond for further comment Thursday night.

A Sheriff’s spokesperson said it received a 911 call at around 1 p.m. from a witness who reported a friend had fallen into the water and did not surface.

Multiple rescue crews with the sheriff’s office and Franklin County Fire District 3 responded, as well as search and rescue crews from neighboring Benton County.

Palouse Falls is closed until further notice.

If confirmed fatal, the incident would be the second case of a death at the falls this year. On April 21, 23-year-old Issac Engell died after he was sucked underneath the falls while swimming with his friends. His body was located days later several miles downriver.

After Engell disappeared, the popular state park was closed. It was reopened May 3.

Last year on May 29, 25-year-old Cade Prophet died after he slipped and fell from a cliff and into the river just above the falls. His body was recovered a day later.

Spokesman-Review reporter Ryan Collingwood contributed to this story