Boy, 17, drowns after jumping off cliff at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve

A 17-year-old boy drowned at the Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park after jumping from a cliff and failing to resurface.

The tragic incident was reported at 4:21 p.m. Tuesday at Quarry 11 in the Stearns County nature preserve, which a popular destination for swimmers during the summer.

Witnesses told responders that the teen had jumped from a 10-foot high cliff into the water and never resurfaced. Bystanders attempted to find the teen but were unsuccessful.

Members of the Stearns County and Benton Dive Team and local fire departments deployed boats to search the quarry. The boy's body was found at 8:45 p.m. in 31 feet of water.

The victim has not yet been publicly identified by authorities.

The Stearns County website notes that the two swimming holes at Quarry Park are not monitored by lifeguards, and swimmers swim at their own risk.