Florida teen dies after falling from rope swing at NC summer camp

FOX 13 News (WTVT) -- A Lakeland teenager and daughter of the Oasis Community Church pastor died after falling more than 100 feet from a giant rope swing at a summer camp in North Carolina.

Olivia Paige Grimes, 16, was a student at George Jenkins High School. She died Monday at Carolina Point Young Life Camp in Brevard, North Carolina.

"All of us at Carolina Point and across Young Life grieve with this young girl's family and friends," Camp manager Greg Carlton read from a prepared statement. "We do not know yet how this occurred."

Pickens County Sheriff's Deputies arrived around 4:20 p.m. Monday to the remote camp on Sassafras Mountain along the North and South Carolina border.

Investigators say Grimes somehow became unattached while atop a giant swing called "'Freebird" and fell a distance between 100 and 120 feet.

"At the moment, our focus is on those grieving over this tragic accident. This is a very sad day for us all," Carlton read.

"Freebird" is a new attraction to the Carolina Point camp.

On the camp's Facebook page, it says the camp finished building the massive structure sometime in April.

Another picture shows three campers with the caption, "3,2,1 drop..."

In a YouTube video recently posted, it shows three people sitting and harnessed in. One pulls a cord, and the swing drops.

VIDEO HERE: Swing footage begins at 7:00 

At the time of Grimes' death, investigators say, two staff members were supervising. Two other campers were also harnessed in and were unharmed.

The swing is closed indefinitely until camp leaders can figure out what went wrong.

Grimes is the daughter of Pastor Phil and Robyn Grimes of the Oasis Church in Lakeland, which posted a message on its website asking for prayers for their family.

"It's with deepest sorrow and broken hearts that we let you know that Olivia Grimes, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Pastor Phil and Robyn and sister of Sabrina, passed away on Monday after an accident at a summer camp. Due to the overwhelming nature of the circumstances, we are asking that you refrain from contacting Phil and Robyn at this time. Please keep them and the entire Grimes family in your prayers. We are grateful for your love and support, which will continue to be needed in the weeks and months ahead. We will update you with arrangements once we have that information."

The camp is run by Young Life, a Christian youth organization. Grimes died at the scene just before 6 p.m. Her body has been sent to a hospital for an autopsy.

Officials say the death was accidental. Sheriff's deputies are investigating.

In a statement posted online, camp officials said they don't yet know what happened.

"We are saddened to report that we've had a tragic accident here at Carolina Point. On Monday afternoon, July 13, a camper became detached from and fell off a swing. Camp staff called emergency medical assistance and immediately began administering CPR. To our great sorrow, this young woman has passed away. All of us at Carolina Point and across Young Life grieve with this young woman's family and friends. We do not yet know how this occurred. At the moment our focus is on those grieving over this tragic accident. This is a very sad day for all of us. The safety of campers and guests is our highest priority at Young Life Camps."