Champion teen falls into crevice at Nelson Ledges

NELSON

A 19-year-old Champion man is in critical condition at Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center after a 50-foot fall from the ledges at Nelson Ledges State Park, Portage County, just west of Southington.

Matthew Seifert, 19, was flown to the hospital by helicopter after the 8 p.m. accident, which occurred while he was hiking with three friends.

Nick Fischbach, regional manager for the Division of Parks and Recreation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said Seifert and the other young men had attempted to jump over a crevice in the Minnehaha Falls area of the park when Seifert fell.

The three other boys made it over the crevice, but Seifert did not, fell backward into the crevice and landed at the bottom, most likely in a muddy area.

Seifert was in the surgical intensive care unit Tuesday morning.

Fischbach said it has been a long time since the park experienced an accident of this type. In the past, alcohol was frequently involved in accidents, but Fischbach said it doesn’t appear that alcohol was involved this time.

“It looks like he just slipped and fell,” Fischbach said.

The crevices contain railings, and the trails are color-coded for difficulty level.