Tourist risks his life at waterfall
A photo taken by Stefánsson shows a man who has crossed all the safety barriers at Dettifoss, perched on the very edge of the waterfall. photo:Ingi Þór Stefánsson
Dettifoss is Europe's most powerful waterfall and is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. Ingi Þór Stefánsson, who was showing the waterfall to a German friend, spotted a tourist jumping between rocks right on the very ledge where Dettifoss plunges into the canyon.
"I have no idea how this individual got there or whether he was an Icelandic or a foreign tourist to the site. He obviously went past all the barriers and warning signs," says Stefánsson to mbl.is
Dettifoss, situated in the Jökulsá á FJöllum river in North East Iceland has an average water flow of 193 cubic metres per second and has a drop of 45 metres down into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon.
"We were in complete shock. If he had tripped, he would be dead. It's a completely irresponsible thing to do, to ignore the barriers. " He adds that the weather at Dettifoss was bad when this occurred, with heavy winds and rain. "It was freezing cold and windy and I watched the man for a while. He was just jumping between rocks and I was really afraid for him."
Dettifoss is Europe's most powerful waterfall. Photo:Golli / Kjartan Þorbjörnsson
