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A Californian woman died Friday after being swept by a waterfall in Lake Tahoe, authorities said.
Stephanie Espinosa, a 35-year-old mother of two teenage girls, was sitting in a natural pool near Eagle Falls when she slipped off looking for a tree branch. She was then "swept into the very fast waters over the waterfall" according to a statement from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.
The authorities said that Espinosa was already dead when they found her. California State Parks is conducting an investigation into the death.
The North Tahoe Fire Protection District originally wrote on Facebook that Espinosa had lost footing by taking pictures near the waterfall. Firefighters warned against "selfies and other photos in dangerous areas".
But his brother, Nick Martinez, says CBS13 Sacramento that Espinosa was not taking pictures and did not have her phone with her when she fell. He said that Espinosa "was just trying to enjoy the moment, which she was a great advocate for".
The fire department has since updated his article on Espinosa, which comes from the Bay Area, with a precision on the incident:
"Every year there are deaths on our water courses and in our backcountry. Our message is to help visitors understand the dangers inherent in our beautiful region, and especially after this record winter, our creeks, rivers, waterfalls and lakes harbor many dangers that visitors must be aware of. Our only hope is that this tragic accident will help others to take it into account and to exercise extreme caution when they recreate themselves in the area. "
The Espinosa family organized a fundraiser to offset the cost of the funeral and help their children.
- This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
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