The daughter of a former Kansas mayor has tragically died after falling from a cliff in Colorado.
Authorities received a report shortly after 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, Sept. 20, that a female climber had fallen near AVA Rafting and Zipline on Highway 103 in Idaho Springs, according to the Idaho Springs Police Department.
The climber, identified as 26-year-old Olivia Copeland of Ft. Collins, sustained significant injuries from the fall, police said. Despite the response from multiple agencies, including a Flight for Life helicopter, Copeland did not survive.
Copeland worked at AVA Rafting and Zipline and was the daughter of Michael Copeland, the former mayor of Olathe, Kan., who passed away in August 2020 at the age of 58, according to FOX affiliate WDAF.
The fatal incident occurred during what police described as a “rappelling portion of the course.” Preliminary information suggests Copeland was guiding a group of AVA customers on the Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course at the time. Alison Mathes, a spokesperson for AVA Rafting and Zipline, confirmed this to The Kansas City Star.
According to the company, the Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course is an up to three-hour climbing tour along Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The route includes iron rungs, bars, and cables for participants to clip in and out, along with a 50-foot controlled freefall, and is rated for ages 12 and up.
Mathes described Copeland as “full of life,” adding, “What made her such an amazing guide was her love for building a genuine connection with every single person she met. She taught all of us how to be more positive, curious, and kind human beings.”
“She will be deeply missed, but we will continue to cherish the time that we got with her and our memories of her as a teammate and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family in Kansas City,” Mathes said.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Copeland’s family remembered her as “a vibrant, adventurous, and deeply loved young woman whose light and kindness touched all who knew her.”
“Our family is still in shock, and we are struggling to comprehend this sudden loss, especially so soon after the unexpected passing of her father,” they wrote. “Even in the midst of this sorrow, we cling to the hope we have in Jesus Christ and trust that Olivia is now safely in His arms.”
“At this time, we do not yet fully know what happened, and we ask for grace as we grieve and seek understanding,” they continued. “We are profoundly grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, neighbors, and our community. We ask for privacy as we mourn Olivia and begin to navigate this unimaginable grief.”
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to police.
