This Land, Your Land

A teenager from Shelby is dead after falling over High Shoals Falls at South Mountains State Park in Connelly Springs, the News-Herald in Morganton reported.

Robert McMahon, 17, died after going over the 80-foot waterfall Tuesday. The report says he "slipped into the water" and went over the edge.

The teen, who was at the park with a church group, is the fourth person to die at the falls since 1993. The last fatality was on June 12, 2005, when a 21-year-old Charlotte woman climbed over a barrier to get a better picture and fell. One person survived the fall in 2003.

Click on the photo of High Shoals Falls below for a look at South Mountains State Park.

The waters above waterfalls may look placid, like at High Shoals below, but can be fatally dangerous.

We had a chance to visit South Mountains State Park south of Morganton a few weeks ago, by chance showing up on Nature Day, and have added a page with photos and information to the Carolina Outdoors Guide section about State Parks.

Besides the back country, South Mountains' main attraction is the 80-foot High Shoals Falls. Take a look here.