Hiker dies from fall while trying to shoot a selfie

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. — A 21-year-old man out hiking in Arizona died after falling off a cliff when he tried to take a selfie Monday.

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Richard Jacobson was camping with a friend on top of Flatiron Summit in Lost Dutchman State Park when he walked to the edge of the cliff to take a picture and slipped, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office told NBC News.

“Mr. Jacobson went to take a photograph with himself and the city skyline in the background, and he lost his footing, and he slipped, and he fell,” Sgt. Doug Peoble with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office told KPHO.

Jacobson’s body was found approximately 700 feet below the summit of the cliff, and a helicopter was used to recover his remains, KNXV reported.

“He slipped and fell. I can tell you that during our investigation, there were no signs of foul play. No signs of drug use whatsoever. It was just a very tragic accident,” Peoble  told KSAZ.

In a Facebook post, Jacobson’s father announced Richard’s funeral would be Saturday in Mesa, Arizona.

Deadly accidents while taking selfies have become a more frequent problem. A study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine found 379 people died while taking selfies from 2008-2021, with 31 cases reported in the first six months of 2021.

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