The 21-year-old soldier died when he jumped off a 36-foot cliffat Acapulco Lake west of Lillington. His name is being withhelduntil his family is notified, said Major Steve West of the HarnettCounty Sheriff's Department.
West said the soldier hit the water face first after jumpingfrom the cliff. Rescue divers at the scene retrieved him abouteight minutes later. He was pronounced dead at Good Hope Hospitalin Erwin.
West said it was unknown whether the man drowned or died fromthe impact with the water. Results from an autopsy could bereleased Monday.
Also Sunday, Terry Smith, 16, drowned in a private lake in thesouthwestern part of the county.
Smith was swimming with friends Sunday afternoon when hedisappeared after swimming outside the designated swimming area,said Captain Corey Grumelot of the Anderson Creek Fire Department.The lake's depth outside the swimming area can range from 6 to 30feet, Grumelot said.
Sixteen divers searched for Smith's body for more than two hoursbefore bringing it to land, Grumelot said.
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