A California news producer tragically died after plunging into a rocky shoreline on an illegal 10-foot rope swing while on a trip to a lake with friends.
Kathryn Hoedt, 23, was killed after she fell from a swing set up near Folsom Lake’s Rattlesnake Bar Boat Launch, about 25 miles from Sacramento, California.
Her friends took her to a nearby boat ramp after the accident, where they found an off-duty doctor, who began performing CPR while the group waited for an ambulance.
Hoedt was rushed over Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where the talented young journalist who produced KCRA’s morning news show was pronounced dead.
Her heartbroken family is now calling on officials to prevent the tragedy from repeating itself, as her devastated mother told Beth KCRA: “I can’t believe it’s real, you know, she was such a bright light.”
Kathryn Hoedt, 23, tragically lost her life on Saturday after a freak accident at Lake Folsom, near Sacramento, California
The 23-year-old was described as “lighting up the newsroom” who was just starting her burgeoning journalism career
Officials said it was ‘likely likely’ they had removed rope swings from the same rocky shoreline where Hoedt lost her life (pictured), as her parents called for more to be done to avoid a repeat of the tragedy
The loss of the young producer, who was described by her colleagues as “one of the nicest people they’ve ever worked with,” was made clear when her father paid tearful tribute to her lost potential.
“She just made such a huge impact and only at 23 years old,” he said. “I wish she could have stayed here for another 60, 70 years. I can’t imagine what she could have done. It’s just devastating to me.”
Rope swings are commonly found along the area of the lake where she died, officials say, posing a significant danger because the homemade swings never undergo any safety or stress testing before people throw themselves off.
“You don’t know who raised the rope swing, you don’t know how strong that is,” said Barry Smith, chief ranger of the Gold Fields District of California State Parks.
‘You don’t know the tree, you don’t know the branch. Anything can give way and it’s extremely dangerous,” he added, noting that rope swings are banned at Folsom Lake — and in every state park.
He said officials cut down rope swings when they see them and search for them daily or weekly, and it is “probably likely” that rope swings were cut down by park rangers at the same spot where Hoedt died.
“There is a lot of danger here that people should be aware of, and unfortunately we are standing here today talking about Kathryn. And we wish we weren’t,” Smith continued.
“These are tragic events and we don’t take them lightly.”
Mike Howard, superintendent of the Folsom Sector at California State Park, said the lake’s water level has changed dramatically in recent years, dropping 15 feet since May.
The lowered water levels expose the rocky shoreline and increase the chance of an accident, Howard said Sacramento bee that “we’re doing our best to reduce the rope swings we see from situations like this.”
Barry Smith, chief ranger of the Gold Fields District of California State Parks, said people shouldn’t trust “extremely dangerous” homemade rope swings
Hoedt’s devastated parents Beth (left) and Andy (right) called on officials to prevent the tragedy from happening again, with her mother saying with better signage ‘she never would have gotten on that rope swing’
Hoedt had worked as a news producer for KCRA’s 8 a.m. morning show, after graduating with a master’s degree from NYU two years ago
Tributes have poured in for the 23-year-old, who was at the start of her burgeoning journalism career before it was tragically cut short.
She had worked as a news producer for KCRA’s 8 AM morning show after graduating with a master’s degree from NYU two years ago.
Her mom said she was always smiling and would constantly FaceTime her loved ones, adding that her loss would be felt so much because “Katie will never call me again, and it’s just going to be something I’ll never get used to.” Unpleasant.’
While officials say they are taking steps to remove the dangerous swings from the lake, the van Hoedt family believes more needs to be done to protect others from similar mishaps.
They believe specific signage and warnings should be posted around the water, especially in the areas where rope swings are popular.
“If Katie had seen such information or signs or been trained, she never would have gotten on that rope swing,” Beth said.
Her father Andy said he would like to see more officials to remove the rope swings in the first place.
“Either cut it down, or better still, cut the branch and throw the branch away completely, so you can’t make anything there,” he said.
“We don’t want this to ever happen to anyone else, and that’s important to us.”
Her father tearfully paid tribute to her lost potential, saying, “I wish she could have been here another 60, 70 years. I can’t imagine what she could have done’
The young journalist was just years into her budding career and her colleagues described her as ‘one of the nicest people they’ve ever worked with’
In a statement following her sudden passing, KCRA news director Derek Schnell said, “Our team is heartbroken over the loss of Katie Hoedt.
“She had a lively personality, she lit up the newsroom with her enthusiasm and her laughter was contagious.
“She was also proud to be a journalist and she was deeply committed to serving our community. Katie had a bright future ahead of her and she will be sorely missed.”
“Her colleagues universally said she was one of the nicest people they’ve ever worked with,” the station added. website.