Man killed in fall at Eagle Falls

A man fell up to 60 feet to his death over Eagle Falls on Sunday, authorities said.

The man, whose identity was unknown as of press time, ended up in the water at the top of the falls. Witnesses said he plunged over the steep bank, California State Parks authorities reported. The incident was called in at 1 p.m.

The falls where the victim reportedly stood runs alongside Highway 89 near the Vikingsholm trail parking lot.

Parks Supervising Ranger Brian Barton said he heard a doctor performed CPR before authorities arrived.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter was brought in to retrieve the body after the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Lake Valley Fire Protection District and El Dorado County Sheriff's crews also responded.

No warning signs are posted at the site because previous ones had been vandalized, parks officials said. Barton believed replacement signs were due to go in.

"People have to take their own safety seriously. We implore them to do so - especially this time of year, when the water flows are so heavy," he said.

The parks district is still investigating the incident. The victim's identity is being withheld until notification of kin.

"(Fatal falls) go in waves. They're not uncommon, especially when the weather is hot," Barton said.

The Parks Service's Sierra District has responded to a few fatal drownings within its jurisdiction in the last month. It is the first fatality, however, in the Tahoe portion of the district.

On Saturday, a man received minor injuries when he fell 12 feet off the rocks in D.L. Bliss State Park.