A 34-year-old Specialist assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, died in an off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap 2 September 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska, at 1400 local. The Soldier was hiking with several other Soldiers from his unit when he accidentally fell off a cliff. He was airlifted to Providence Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Since 2018, the Army has lost an average of 11 Soldiers a year to off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishaps. This was the eighth off-duty sports, recreation and physical training fatality of FY23 and above the number of off-duty sports, recreation and physical training fatalities from this time last year.
Safety tip
Cliff Safety
- Take your time and watch your step – Be careful and watch where you are walking, especially on slippery areas or near cliffs. Stick to dry paths and solid rock areas with good footing.
- Don’t get too distracted – Pay attention when taking photos, videos or just looking at the scenery. Watch your step. There will often be uneven ground, holes, bumps on rocks and stumps near the cliff’s edge. Tripping can cause a fall as easily as slipping.
- Only use the designated paths – Take notice of any warning signs and fences in place, be responsible and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
- Make sure that you are properly equipped for walking along paths – Remember to wear sturdy shoes or boots and check the weather forecast. Carry a fully charged mobile phone and tell someone where you are going and what time you will be home.
- Do not attempt to climb up or down cliffs – Unless you are properly equipped and trained to do so, do not attempt to climb cliffs as a shortcut back to the top.
- Keep your dog on a lead near cliffs – If your dog picks up the scent of an animal or hears something on the ledge below, it doesn’t take much for them to follow their nose. Above all, if your dog does fall down a cliff, do not attempt to rescue it yourself. Nine times out of ten your dog will rescue itself and return to you alive, but, tragically, some owners do not.
- Stay away from the bottom of cliffs – When standing at the bottom of a cliff, we always advise people that they should not stand less than the height of the cliff away. That means that if the cliff is 25 meters high, don’t go closer than 25 meters toward it.
- Source: Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty