Posted: July 14, 2015
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A hot summer day-- a perfect time for a swim in Lake Champlain. But police say Michael Hansen, 41, of Shelburne, jumped off a 70-foot cliff to his death. It happened at Red Rocks Park in South Burlington around 7 p.m. Monday. Hansen was there swimming with a family member.
Police say after Hansen landed in the water, he was seen slowly swimming. But by the time witnesses got to him, he was unresponsive. And when South Burlington Police arrived, officers say CPR was already being performed on Hansen. It was too late. Hansen was pronounced dead upon arrival at the UVM Medical Center.
The autopsy found Hansen died of blunt force trauma as a result of the impact of the water. His death was ruled accidental.
Red Rocks is a popular but notoriously dangerous spot. Jumping from the cliffs is not illegal, but the city does not condone it. There are signs posted warning about the dangers. There have been deaths and close calls in the past.
Experts say jumps from that height are extremely risky. Your body will be traveling at a high speed and anything but a perfectly straight entry into the water can cause a traumatic impact, leading to severe injuries
There are also dangers of impacting objects in the water and shock that can lead to drowning.
Police say Hansen's death is being ruled as accidental. The South Burlington Police Chief says that while he has not seen a death at Red Rocks in many years, there are still serious inherent risks.