Hiker, rescuer killed at Washington state waterfall

PILCHUCK FALLS, Wash. -- A search and rescue volunteer died trying to save a 25-year-old hiker who fell 100 feet to his death at Pilchuck Falls in western Washington state, CBS affiliate KIRO reported Sunday.

A friend who was with the hiker was rescued, authorities said.

The deadly accident occurred about 36 miles northwest of Seattle around 9:40 p.m. Saturday.

The 25-year-old hiker and his friend had been walking on a logging road with two other people when they separated from the group and tried to make their way down to the falls near Lake Cavanaugh, KIRO said.

When the man fell his friend tried to reach him, but then the friend also found himself in distress.

A Skagit County Search and Rescue volunteer group that was training nearby who responded to the scene. As the group attempted to reach the two men, a 61-year-old volunteer fell and died, KIRO said.

The 25-year-old man who fell also died. The man's friend was rescued. The nature of his injuries was no immediately known.

The bodies of the two men were recovered Sunday, The Bellingham Herald reported. The names of the victims were not immediately released.

Pilchuck Falls is 14 feet high and 60 feet wide in a steep ravine, according to the website AaronsWaterfallWorld.com, which tracks conditions at waterfalls in western Washington.