Couple plunges to their deaths from Yosemite cliff featured in viral photo
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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — A couple fell to their deaths Thursday from Yosemite National Park’s Taft Point a week after another couple’s proposal at the popular wedding photo backdrop became a social media sensation.
The deaths ran the total of fatalities in the park over the last six months to eight.
“A male and female visitor died in an apparent fall from Taft Point in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park Rangers are recovering the bodies this morning,” a release stated. “This incident is under investigation and no further details are available.”
Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman says the park is still investigating when the man and woman fell and from what spot at Taft Point, which is at an elevation of 7,500 feet. He says railings only exist at some parts of the overlook.
Gediman says more than 10 people have died this year in Yosemite, some from natural causes and others from falls.
Just last week, freelance photographer Matt Dippel went on social media in search of a couple he inadvertently captured in the background of one of his photos.
Dippel was waiting to take a picture of his friend, Josh, when a couple walked out onto the cliff and the man dropped to one knee.
He took a picture of the proposal — and the one he wanted of Josh — and then went to give the couple the picture.
“I ran over to that point after I took the photo to try to figure out who they were and I asked maybe 20 or 25 people and no one came forward.”
When Dippel got home to Grand Rapids, Michigan, he posted the picture on Facebook and asked the internet to help find them. The post has been shared thousands of times and folks are trying to help Dippel locate the couple.