EAGLE FALLS. A man has died following a water rescue at Eagle Falls outside Index on Sunday evening.
At approximately 7 p.m., emergency crews responded to reports of an individual unconscious in the Skykomish River near the renowned waterfall. According to Sky Valley Fire, firefighters successfully extracted the person from the current and initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation, though efforts proved unsuccessful.
Snohomish County deputies identified the deceased as a 60-year-old man who had been visiting the site alone. A passerby spotted him in the water and placed the 911 call that triggered the initial response.
Since 2020, at least thirteen individuals have lost their lives at Eagle Falls, as noted by Sky Valley Fire in their social media update.
The site’s prominence grew significantly during the pandemic, with viral videos highlighting its scenic beauty, and associated hazards, along U.S. Highway 2. Earlier reporting described how the area’s combination of rocky beaches, cascading rapids, and powerful chutes created both appeal and risk for visitors.
The waterfall’s flow, fed by glacial melt, moves through tight passages between boulders, creating strong and unpredictable currents. Each year, people fall into the water, suffer head impacts, or become submerged by the force of the rapids, often with tragic outcomes.
On Sunday night, parts of U.S. 2 remained closed as multiple emergency units staged at the scene, per Sky Valley Fire.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiners Office will conduct a formal identification and issue findings on the cause and manner of death.
Officials indicated this remains an ongoing situation, with further updates anticipated.