A former NMU student and USOEC wrestler died from injuries as the result of a 70-foot fall from the top of Miners Falls in the early morning of Monday, Nov. 11.
Franklin Carver Sade, 24, and Jordan McGuire were camping at the top of the falls when Sade was gathering firewood and fell. McGuire called 911 as soon as he found a place with cell service, which was around 4:40 a.m., said U.S. Parks Service Ranger Bill Smith.
Rescuers made contact with Sade a few minutes before 6 a.m. EMS used lifesaving techniques on the way to the Munising Memorial Hospital where he was hospitalized for several hours before he was pronounced dead.
Smith said Sade and McGuire arrived at the Pictured Rocks area around 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. A storm came in during the evening, with winds and snowfall. The conditions were not ideal for camping, Smith said, and added there are no designated campgrounds in the area.
According to the NMU Communications and Marketing Department, McGuire had never been a student at NMU.
Sade was with the USOEC wrestling team for the winter 2012 semester, according to USOEC head wrestling coach Rob Hermann.
“It was [Frank’s] dream to train Greco,” said Hermann, adding that he wanted to emulate his father, who competed in the 1976 Olympics.
“[Frank] will be greatly missed and he built a lot of friendships,” Hermann said. “Some of the guys [on the team] were with him Saturday so it was kind of a shock to them.”
