Lake Stunt Proven Deadly

A young man was killed and several teenagers have been hurt jumping from a cliff into Lake Skiatook. It's prompting calls to block off that popular spot.

As News On 6's Emory Bryan reports, it's not just something that young people are doing. On Monday at the lake, a News On 6 crew saw adults who probably should know better than jumping from high cliffs into relatively shallow water.

Lots of people swing from ropes and jump from tall cliffs on an island in Lake Skiatook.

"You run and just jump and you go down and you don't have any breath," said Kayla Parker, a cliff jumper.

Kayla Parker ruptured two discs in her back when she was talked into jumping a month ago.

"But then there's people down there going, ‘come on jump, jump' and you're standing there contemplating," said Kayla.

Eighteen-year-old Pabo Torres of Claremore jumped from the cliff later the same day.

"When he jumped off the cliff, he did a back flip and basically landed flat on his back. And you just knew something was wrong," said Scott Schneckel, witness.

Scott Schneckel dove in and pulled him off the bottom, but Torres' neck was broken and he drowned.

The cliffs at Lake Skiatook attract dozens of boats on a sunny day. But considering the danger, should more be done to protect people from themselves?

"I want it blocked off because I don't want another parent to get that phone call or have to bury her child," said Nancy Parker, a mother.

Nancy Parker rushed to the lake when her daughter was hurt. While she was there, she saw the jump that killed Pabo Torres.

"For myself, because I saw this 18-year-old pass away right before my eyes, I feel like I have to do something to get that cliff blocked," said Nancy.

Until it's fenced off, every weekend, more people take the risk and jump.

The lake is under the control of the Corps of Engineers, which prohibits cliff jumping, but doesn't actively enforce the rule.

Without a constant presence to stop it or a fence, plenty of people are jumping from that cliff.