A 21-year-old college student has died after jumping into a natural swimming area in Oregon and being unable to make it back out.
Kenny Truong died on June 26 after entering the water at Tamolitch Falls in the Willamette National Forest, a site widely known as Blue Pool.
According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a 911 call at 8:47 p.m. reporting that a man had jumped into the water and was not able to get out. Witnesses later described Truong struggling as he swam toward shore before submerging.
Investigators said Truong had been spending time in the area with friends before deciding to jump into the pool.
A GoFundMe created in Truong’s memory has described him as a ‘bright soul’, according to PEOPLE.
“He was admirable in the truest sense of the word,” the tribute said. “A bright soul that this world needed more of. And losing him has left a hole in our hearts that words honestly can’t fill.”
His LinkedIn profile states that he was studying business at Wichita State University, ABC affiliate KAKE reported.
Officials said the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Upper McKenzie Rural Fire responded together, with first responders and bystanders trying to help him before he was pronounced dead.
Officials also shared condolences following his death.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Kenny Truong, 21, of Kansas, during what is an unimaginable time.”
“Witnesses describe him struggling as he swam toward shore, before submerging.
“Despite the best efforts of those at Tamolitch Falls who tried to help him, and the first responders who arrived in response to the 911 call, Kenny did not survive.”
Authorities also warned that the location remains extremely dangerous, saying it ‘will take lives again if visitors do not understand what they are facing’.
The sheriff’s office said the risks are made worse by the area’s limited phone service, noting there is ‘minimal to no cell phone reception in the area’ and that ‘ it can take up to several hours from the moment of injury to reach a hospital’ if an emergency happens.
“Linn County Sheriff’s Office and our partner agencies respond to emergencies at this location every year.”
The sheriff’s office said the water averages 37F, which is ‘cold enough to cause immediate physical shock upon entry’. The U.S. Forest Service also notes that Tamolitch Blue Pool is a heavily used recreation site, open year-round for day use, with no potable water available on site.
That kind of cold water shock can make muscles tighten and cause a person to lose control of their breathing and movement, putting even experienced swimmers in danger.
In the most severe situations, cold water shock can also trigger cardiac arrest.
Blue Pool’s appeal is part of what makes it so risky: the water is strikingly clear and blue, but the pool is fed by cold underground flow and surrounded by steep cliffs. Officials urge visitors to stay out of the water, keep an eye on their group, and call 911 immediately if someone is in distress.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institute in the UK advises anyone experiencing cold water shock to try to stay calm, focus on controlling their breathing, and float on their back until the initial effects pass, which can take about a minute.