An Illinois man died after falling while hiking at a state park in New York.

The 70-year-old traveler, Jack Wersching, was exploring the Kaaterskill Wild Forest in the Catskills on the evening of Friday, June 20, when he accidentally fell from a rock ledge onto the stone steps below, as reported by the New York State Police.

Wersching, of Park Ridge, Illinois, was walking along a path near a waterfall when the incident occurred. 

Park rangers responded quickly to the scene and attempted to stabilize him for an airlift to a hospital, but he died at the scene.

A 70-year-old tourist fell to his death from a rock ledge at a New York state park last week. (iStock)

“I just tried to save him, and I couldn’t,” Shalom told the outlet. 

Wersching’s family also released a statement to the Post, describing him as a “devoted husband, father, and grandfather,” and recalling his zest for life, marked by curiosity and a spirit of adventure.

“While we are heartbroken by his passing, we find solace in the fact that he was engaged in an activity he truly loved,” Wersching’s family expressed in their statement.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com