Man hits water face-first, vanishes after jump from cliff, California cops say

A 46-year-old man died after jumping from a 40-foot cliff into a lake and hitting the water face-first, California sheriff’s officials reported.

Brian Jacob Delong of Siskiyou County did not resurface after jumping from a rock outcrop into Kangaroo Lake at about 4 p.m. July 12, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said in a Friday, July 18, news release.

The sheriff’s dive team later found Delong’s body in 21 feet of water, deputies said.

An investigation into his death continues, deputies said.

Kangaroo Lake is about a 265-mile drive northwest from Sacramento.

What to know about cliff jumping

No regulations prohibit cliff-jumping in the Klamath National Forest, but sheriff’s officials do not advise jumping from rocks, ledges or man-made structures higher than 15 feet above the water, deputies said.

“This fatal incident serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent dangers of cliff-jumping, particularly due to the danger of striking rocks or hitting the water at a high speed,” deputies said.

“When jumping from a height of 40 feet, the force of impact with the water can prove devastating as an individual can sustain concussions, broken bones or be knocked unconscious and drown,” deputies said.

This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM with the headline "Man hits water face-first, vanishes after jump from cliff, California cops say."