‘It will take lives again’: College student dies after jumping into Oregon’s iconic Blue Pool

LINN COUNTY, Ore. – A 21-year-old college student died after jumping into Tamolitch Falls, a popular destination in the Willamette National Forest famously known as the Blue Pool. 

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According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Kenny Truong of Kansas, was visiting the scenic attraction with friends on Friday, June 26, when he decided to jump into the basin. Local news outlets report Truong was a student at Wichita State University.

The vibrant turquoise water draws large crowds of national and international visitors to the falls every year. However, the scenic location has a tragic history, claiming multiple lives over the past decade.

Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call at 8:47 p.m. reporting that a man had jumped into the water and was unable to get out. Witnesses described seeing Truong struggle to swim to shore before he fully submerged. 

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The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, and Upper McKenzie Rural Fire responded to the remote location together. "These agencies have done so many times before at this location," the sheriff's office stated. 

First responders located the victim and pulled him from the water, but life-saving measures were ultimately unsuccessful.

Following the tragedy, officials warned that the Blue Pool "will take lives again if visitors do not understand what they are facing."

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According to the U.S. Forest Service, the cliffs surrounding the pool range from 10 to 60 feet high, with a bone-chilling temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit—extreme enough to trigger immediate physical shock.

Compounding the hazard, there is minimal to zero cell phone reception in the area, meaning it can take hours for emergency responders to coordinate a rescue and transport victims to a hospital. 

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The responding emergency agencies extended their deepest sympathies to Truong's family and friends. 

Officials urge future visitors to research safety parameters ahead of time and fully understand the lethal environmental risks before ever entering the water.