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A 21-year-old Wichita State University student drowned after jumping into a popular Oregon swimming hole where authorities say the water is cold enough to cause immediate physical shock.
Kenny Truong, of Wichita, Kansas, was visiting Tamolitch Falls, which is commonly known as Blue Pool, with friends Friday evening when he jumped into the water and was unable to get out, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said.
Dispatchers received a 911 call at 8:47 p.m. on June 26 reporting that a man had gone into the pool, located off Highway 126, and was struggling.
“Witnesses describe him struggling as he swam toward shore, before submerging,” Linn County Undersheriff Micah Smith said in a release. “Despite the best efforts of those at Tamolitch Falls who tried to help him, and the first responders who arrived in response to the 911 call, Kenny did not survive.”
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The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Upper McKenzie Rural Fire responded to the remote area Friday evening.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Kenny Truong, 21, of Kansas, during what is an unimaginable time,” Smith said.
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Truong was a finance major at the W. Frank Barton School of Business and a member-at-large of the Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund, Wichita State University confirmed to Fox News Digital.
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Blue Pool, known for its striking turquoise water and cliffside views, is a major draw for hikers and visitors across the Pacific Northwest, but officials warned it can be deadly.
“It is also a place that has taken lives before and will take lives again if visitors do not understand what they are facing,” Smith said.
Authorities said the cliffs surrounding the pool rise between 10 and 60 feet, while the water averages just 37 degrees. The area also has minimal to no cellphone service, and rescue efforts can be complicated by the remote terrain.
“When something goes wrong at Blue Pool — or on the trail leading into the falls — it can take up to several hours from the moment of injury to reach a hospital,” the sheriff’s office said.
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A GoFundMe organized by Carter Nguyen remembered Truong as a deeply loved friend with “fire in him” who pushed others to become “the brightest, best, fullest” versions of themselves.
“Kenny wasn’t just my best friend; he was my brother,” Nguyen wrote. “He had a way of making everyone around him feel seen, feel loved, and feel like they were capable of more than they ever believed on their own.”
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“Every room he walked into got a little brighter just because he was in it,” Nguyen wrote. “That’s not something you can fake; that was just Kenny.”
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The sheriff’s office urged visitors to understand the risks before entering the water at Tamolitch Falls, watch out for the people they arrive with and call 911 immediately if someone is in distress. Officials said visitors with questions about current conditions should contact the McKenzie River Ranger Station.
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