A 23-year-old man was reportedly swept over a waterfall in Yosemite National Park to his death, according to law enforcement.
A spokesperson for Yosemite confirmed to the LA Times that an incident occurred on June 20 at Nevada Fall, a 600-foot waterfall on the Merced River.
The official provided few details, only confirming that the incident involved a 23-year-old man and that “emergency personnel responded to the incident, which remains under investigation.”
“The National Park Service is investigating an incident involving a 23-year-old male at Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park on June 20, 2026. Emergency personnel responded to the incident, which remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time,” the NPS said in a statement.
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Fresno Bee that the victim was Josue Baires Alfaro and that he was killed during the incident.
Alfaro was reportedly in the Merced River when the incident occurred, according to the Fresno Bee.
Unconfirmed witness reports from individuals posting on Reddit have been reported in other coverage of the story.
“We saw the girl and another person dragged by the current of the river. A person nearby handed the girl a branch, and she was rescued, but the other person couldn’t attach to anything and went with the current to the fall. That was horrifying to see,” a Reddit user wrote.
Reddit users can post anonymously. Police have not confirmed the details of the witness account. The Independent has requested comment from Yosemite National Park.
This is not the first fatality at the waterfall. In 2018, an Israeli teenager fell to his death while he was trying to take a selfie at the edge of Nevada Fall, according to the Fresno Bee.
In 2011, three people died when they were swept over the 317-foot Vernal Fall, which is downstream from Nevada Fall.
In that incident, a trio of visitors reportedly entered the waters above the falls approximately 25 feet from the precipice, according to the NPS. The agency noted that in order to access the area, the group would have had to illegally cross a metal guardrail meant to keep hikers away.
The trio was swept over the waterfall by the fast-moving river. All three were killed.
The National Park Service has warned that water-related accidents are the second most common cause of death in Yosemite National Park. It notes that incidents often can occur in areas where danger isn’t obvious.
“Visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution around all water in Yosemite National Park,” the NPS says on its website..
