SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Two teens die in fall; painful reminder to prepare when hiking
Sep 17, 2012, 5:08 PM | Updated: 7:16 pm
 Christian Faith School has identified two hikers who died as Andrew Lusink and Ben Skagen. (Christian Faith School, Federal Way) |
“It has to hurt like hell to see your two friends pass away like that.”
Don O’Neill’s heart is going out to the friends and family of two teenagers who died after a fall during a hike around Otter Falls.
The King County Sheriff’s Office said the boys died after falling 100 feet during a hike at the falls near North Bend on Sunday night.
Christian Faith School in Federal Way has identified the two teens who died as Andrew Lusink, 16, and Ben Skagen, 18.
“Deeply tragic event has happen at CFS. Andrew Lusink and Ben Skagen died in hiking accident last night.” The school held a prayer service in the morning for the boys and pastors were available to counsel grieving students.
Two boys hiking with the teens tried to aid their ultimately fatal injuries. A brother of one of the victims ran five miles down the trail for help eventually reaching a Forest Service employee who called 911.
The King County Sheriff’s Office received the emergency call around 7:30 p.m. and sent Search and Rescue Units to the area.
Another pair of hikers on the trail also tried to give assistance, making a fire, and attempting CPR on the injured teens.
When rescue teams arrived, the two boys had already died as a result of their injuries.
The sheriff’s office estimates it may have been as long as one hour before the call for aid was made, because there is no cell service in the area.
The tragedy reminds Don of the 10, now 12 Essentials to have with you when you’re hiking.
“Sometimes when we go off in the woods, we think well, ‘I have my cell phone I’m good, and that’s all I really need if I run into trouble.’ No. You have to take your twelve essentials,” explained Don.
For the friend who stayed, and used “buddy medicine” to keep the teens alive, and to the brother who ran for help, Don expressed his deepest sympathies. “It must hurt like hell.”
