Two Cornell Students Drown in Unrelated Fall Creek Gorge Incidents

Over the weekend, rising senior Nathaniel Rand and chemistry intern Stanislaw Jaworski died within hours of one another in unrelated accidents at Fall Creek Gorge on Cornell University's campus.

The Ithaca Fire Department recovered Jaworski's body east of the hydroelectric plant after the 26-year-old graduate student from the University of Gdansk in Poland. He had slipped and fallen on Saturday after losing his footing while walking along the gorge trail.

Three hours later, police and firefighters reported to the scene again at 4 p.m. when Rand was trapped under the water by Ithaca Falls, further downstream from where the previous incident took place. He had been swimming with a group of Cornell students. Officials were unable to locate Rand in order to rescue him. The New York State Police dive team recovered the student's body at 8:55 p.m.

Jaworski and Rand's deaths are the second and third to occur at the gorge this summer. On May 30, Kendrick Castro, who had graduated the day before, drowned to death while swimming in the gorge. Earlier that day, a mother and daughter had been pulled in by strong currents, but were rescued by Ithaca police.

Deaths at the gorge have not been uncommon at Fall Creek Gorge. In August 2006, three people died at the gorge, including 23-year-old graduate student Aravind Lakshmanan. The following year, another student died after falling into the Cascadilla Gorge, another gorge on campus. The stairs going down to Fall Creek Gorge are lined with plaques in memory of students who have died there.

Swimming at the gorge is prohibited and in light of recent events, authorities are urging patrons to take precautions and are looking to more heavily enforce the rules by increasing patrol by Cornell and Ithaca police in the area.

"In the weeks ahead, I will work with my colleagues and interested parties in the community to explore the best ways to foster even greater observance of existing and, if necessary, additional safety precations," Cornell President David Skorton wrote in an email to the Cornell community.

There are plans to commemorate both Jaworski and Rand in the following weeks.