Cliff jumper, 17, died after pal leapt straight after him and landed on top of him

Garrett Berg never surfaced after another teenager landed on top of him, with his body later recovered by divers

A young cliff jumper died after one of his pals leapt off an escarpment straight after him and landed on top of him. Garrett Berg, 17, was killed moments after jumping off the cliff and into Lake Byllesby near Cannon Falls, Minnesota, on Monday.

Sheriff’s deputies said another teenager jumped straight after Berg and landed on top of him after he hit the water, fatally injuring the youngster. Berg did not surface afterwards, with his body recovered by divers from Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department later on Monday, KARE11 reported.

An autopsy is now set to be performed to establish exactly how Berg died, with sheriff’s deputies continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Details on the person who landed on Berg – and whether they might face criminal charges – have not been released.

Garrett’s dad Steve Berg paid tribute to his son as a keen sportsman who also loved showing sheep and rabbits in agricultural competitions.

Steve added: ‘He was very social, had a lot of friends and loved making new friends.’

A spokesman for Farmington High School, where Garrett attended, also paid tribute, saying: ‘He will be greatly missed by his teachers, classmates, teammates, and friends at Farmington High. ‘

Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office warned other prospective jumpers that accessing the Lake Byllesby cliffs involves trespassing on private property, which is illegal.

Its deputies removed around 30 other people from the area on Monday.

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