THE United States Embassy in Harare has expressed condolences following the death of an American tourist who fell into the Victoria Falls gorge, as authorities from Zimbabwe and Zambia confirmed that the body has been retrieved.
“We are aware of the tragic incident at Victoria Falls. While we are unable to offer details, our sympathies are with the family and friends of the victim,” the US Embassy told NewZimbabwe.com.
“We thank local authorities who assist when situations involving American visitors occur.”
A joint team of Zimbabwean and Zambian police reportedly recovered the body on Wednesday after it was spotted lodged between rocks in the gorge late Tuesday. The Victoria Falls gorge plunges about 108 metres below the falls.
According to reports, the deceased, an American national who has not been publicly named, was reported missing after failing to return to a lodge where he was staying. Lodge staff raised the alarm on Tuesday when the tourist did not come back after crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia.
A search operation was immediately launched, leading to the sighting of the body trapped in the gorge. Authorities then shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery operation.
Police divers, secured with ropes, made a hazardous descent into the gorge, where they placed the body on a stretcher before it was slowly hauled to the surface after several hours.
Zambian police later positively identified the body as that of the missing American tourist.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tourist’s death are continuing, as authorities work to establish how he slipped and fell into the gorge.
