Tragic Fall at North Carolina Waterfall

A woman lost her life over the weekend after falling from a hiking trail at a waterfall in North Carolina. Astrid Angelina Madrid Ticus, 29, was pronounced dead following the incident at Big Bradley Falls near Saluda on Sunday around 1:30 PM.

The Polk County community expressed heartfelt condolences to Ticus’s family and friends during this challenging time.

Emergency services, including personnel from Saluda Fire and Rescue, the Mill Spring Fire Department, Polk County Emergency Management, and the Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene at the Big Bradley Falls Trailhead on Holbert Cove Road. On their arrival, they discovered that the woman had fallen an estimated distance of 75 to 100 feet and unfortunately died from her injuries.

Rescue workers undertook efforts to recover her body and the county urged visitors to exercise caution when utilizing trails and nature areas.

The exact circumstances leading to the fall remain unclear. Big Bradley Falls, noted for its stunning views, is a 75-foot waterfall situated in a small valley along Cove Creek, close to Saluda. Descriptions indicate that the path to the base of the waterfall can be steep and quite precarious, requiring a rope to navigate a section of the cliff.

This unfortunate event follows another tragedy just a week prior, where Joseph Arabdulwab, 25, died at Steel Creek Falls in the Pisgah National Forest, located roughly 75 miles away from Big Bradley Falls. It’s a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can accompany outdoor adventures.