Tourist dies after falling 177ft from waterfall while trying to take a photo

Zachary Nicholas Mertens fell to his death at the beauty spot (Picture: Getty)

A man has died after plunging to his death while trying to take a picturesque photo at a waterfall.

Zachary Nicholas Mertens, 20, fell 177 feet after slipping in an area of Silver Falls State Park in Oregon.

He had been trying to snap a photo at the South Falls when he lost his footing and fell into the water below on Monday evening.

Mertens, from Kentucky, was in a closed area of the park. Witnesses tried to perform CPR but he was pronounced dead shortly after the fall.

Regional park manager Chris Gilliand told the Statesman Journal: ‘It was a pretty horrific accident. ...