Teenager dies after plunging 1,400ft into canyon as he tried to take photograph
A 'fun-loving and intelligent' teenager died after plunging down a canyon to his death after he attempted to take a photograph.
Jonathan Fielding, from Utah, was hiking near Moonscape Overlook on Saturday when he slipped 1,400 feet after trying to capture a view of a stunning landscape. After losing his footing, the 19-year-old, originally from Blue Springs, Missouri, slipped and was later found at the bottom by his two friends.
Wayne County officials ruled his death as accidental as a GoFundMe page was set-up to help cover funeral costs. More than $26,000 has already been raised and his heartbroken friends and family paid tribute to him following his tragic death. His grieving relatives described him as a 'loving and caring son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, and cousin'.
The family wrote: "While the passing of Jonathan was unexpected, we take some comfort knowing that he was doing what he loved at the time of the accident. He was on a photoshoot with friends in the beautiful Utah wilderness where he loved to be. He was a fun-loving, intelligent young man.
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The tragic 19-year-old had a love of photography and nature (GoFundMe)"He had big dreams and hopes focused on sales. More important than his dreams and future plans, however, Jonathan was a good person. Jonathan truly cared about others. He would genuinely listen to you. He was truly a friend in every sense of the word. He had many friends and was an influence for good.
"He was always kind to others. He would often notice those that needed help and offered them assistance and encouragement. While Jonathan’s time in life was limited, his impact on others was not. He was loved by many. He will be missed by all that knew him," they concluded their emotional statement.
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He died as he was hiking hiking near Moonscape Overlook on Saturday (Rebecca Fielding)The young man had recently moved to the Beehive State from Missouri where he began a new job. He remained a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was passionate about the community service projects he took part in. Tributes flooded in on the online fundraiser.
Rebecca Fielding, the teen's devastated sister, travelled from Missouri to the canyon so she could get some 'closure'. Posting a number of photos of her sibling on Facebook, she wrote: "It was a tragic accident, but Jonathan should be a cautionary tale to anyone who hikes or does photography.
"No view is worth your life. No view is worth the suffering that your family and friends will go through. No view is worth the risk that rescuers face when trying to save people and recover bodies. There was no reason for my brother to die. Please don’t make the same mistakes he did."
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