Horror moment reckless tourists jump safety fence to pose for selfies inches from CLIFF edge near notorious waterfall
THIS is the shocking moment two tourists jump a safety fence to pose on the edge of a 317ft cliff.
Two tourists ignored several warning signs and a safety fence to take selfies on a notorious waterfall known for sweeping people away, leaving other hikers stunned.
Maddie Hopkins, who was hiking the Mist Trail in California, captured the shocking moment on video.
In the clip, two men can be seen on the wrong side of a safety rail, smiling for pictures at Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park.
The 317ft waterfall has several signs around the safety fence warning hikers not to get too close.
One sign reads: “Danger. Wet and dry granite is slippery. Falls are Fatal.”
Maddie shared the shocking video on her Instagram account and slammed the pair for putting themselves, and others in danger.
She told What’s the Jam: “Vernal Falls is known for sweeping people away, which is why the park has fences in place.”
Hours earlier, Maddie had witnessed a helicopter rescue a pair of hikers on the trail, highlighting the dangers of the trail.
“Yosemite’s search and rescue team works so hard to keep park visitors safe.
“Tourists like the ones we saw on Vernal Falls make their job one hundred times harder.”
The video has gathered more than 669,000 views, 14,200 likes and thousands of comments from shocked users all over the world.
One person said: “Unbelievable.”
Pam commented: “These people need to be banned from all National Parks for life.
“Not to protect them but to protect the rescuers that have to put their own life at risk if she falls.”
Maddie added: “I think it’s important to be considerate of the park’s first responders when exploring somewhere like Yosemite.
“I understand the desire to take risks and get closer to the falls for a photo.
“That said, many people don’t realise the dangerous position that search and rescue personnel are put in when they have to recover injured or killed hikers from areas like Vernal Falls.”