A 20-year-old West Point cadet candidate died in New York’s Catskill Mountains Saturday, officials said.
Benjamin K. Bochtler, from Bellevue, Neb., was hanging onto a rock ledge near Fawn’s Leap, a popular cliff-diving location, when a portion of the rock broke off, according to the New York State Police.
Benjamin K. Bochtler, 20, a student at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School in West Point, New York, died when a rock ledge from which he was hanging gave way, according to New York State Police https://t.co/kIUOKSeKq6
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Paramedics attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful.
“Cadet Candidate Bochtler had an incredible smile and infectious positive attitude,” COL Joshua Higgins, Commandant of the United States Preparatory School, said in a statement.
“He was everyone’s friend. Ben was a prior-enlisted combat veteran who set a tremendous example and used his experience in the Army to help his fellow Cadet Candidates. His warm personality and that big smile made a lasting impact on everyone at USMAPS. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and friends.”
Bochtler previously served in the Army as a drone operator and was deployed to Afghanistan before enlisting at West Point in July.
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