A 17-year-old girl plunged 30ft to her death during a hiking trip after she lost her footing and fell.
Zoe McKinney was hiking with a group of friends in the Moab Rim Trail in Kane Creek Canyon, Utah, US, on Friday afternoon when she entered a steep area and “somehow slipped and fell”, according to the Moab Police Department.
The teen, who was without any hiking equipment, fell off the ledge and into a "deep, cliffy area" as officials struggled to reach her due to the 30ft fall.
Her friends quickly called 911 at around 4.10pm and rescue teams were dispatched to try and rescue the teen.
Using ropes and harnesses the 17-year-old was reached but she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Assistant police chief Lex Bell said her family were at the scene as the rescue teams tried to rescue the hiker.
The teen was set to receive an award from her school Grand County High School on the same day she died.
"The timing is even just that much more tragic with tonight and what was going to occur," Mr Bell added.
Grand County School District paid tribute, saying: "Zoe was a remarkable student and we will honour her memory throughout the remainder of this senior year.
“The school community is grieving with Zoe’s family and will provide love and support in any way we can, including having therapists available at school on Monday.”
Her heartbroken boyfriend Lloyd Gist, 18, revealed she had planned to become a paramedic once she finished high school.
The pair, who had been dating for the last year, met when she was cheerleading for the Grand County High School team and he was playing football.
Lloyd told NBC: "She had the brightest smile. She was just the sweetest — if anyone asked her to do anything she would be jumping on it instantly.”
Moab Police Department chief Jared Garcia said the loss has left the local community devastated.
He said: “We recognise the devastating impact the loss of a beloved young woman and friend has in this small community, but know that wonderful people of Moab will band together to support and comfort her family and friends at this time."
