The grieving family of a 19-year-old who tragically died after falling 1,400ft into a popular canyon near Torrey, Utah, has paid heartbreaking tribute.
Jonathan Fielding and his friends were hiking near Moonscape Overlook when he fell while trying to take a photo.
Wayne County officials reportedly ruled the teen’s death as accidental.
Fielding, a photography enthusiast, reportedly stopped to take a photo of the landscape when he suddenly lost his footing.
The area is also described as ‘Mars’ because of the gray mesas covering it and steep cliffs.
The teen was described by his family as a ‘loving and caring son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, and cousin.
“While the passing of Jonathan was unexpected, we take some comfort knowing that he was doing what he loved at the time of the accident,” the tribute read.
“He was on a photoshoot with friends in the beautiful Utah wilderness where he loved to be.”
His sister, Rebecca, reportedly drove to the site where his brother passed away to ‘get some closure.’
Sharing photos of her brother on Facebook, she wrote: “It was a tragic accident, but Jonathan should be a cautionary tale to anyone who hikes or does photography.
“No view is worth your life. No view is worth the suffering that your family and friends will go through. No view is worth the risk that rescuers face when trying to save people and recover bodies.
“There was no reason for my brother to die. Please don’t make the same mistakes he did.”
In Fielding’s obituary, he was described as a ‘funny’ and ‘intelligent’ man who had ‘big dreams.’
“Jonathan truly cared about others. He would genuinely listen to you. He was truly a friend in every sense of the word,” it read.
“He had many friends and was an influence for good. He was always kind to others. He would often notice those that needed help and offered them assistance and encouragement.”
Fielding was a member of his high school’s track and field and was also a boy scout.
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