Hiker dies in fall at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, Massachusetts

SUTTON, Massachusetts — A woman died Wednesday afternoon after falling at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, state police reported. Emergency responders were alerted to the incident shortly after 2 p.m.

Upon arrival, police found the victim had already been pronounced dead at the scene. Aerial footage from Sky5 showed rescue crews with a stretcher positioned below a rock cliff.

Multiple ambulances and police vehicles gathered in the main parking lot as hikers and other visitors left the area. The Sutton fire chief confirmed that the victim was a woman, but no further information about her identity has been released publicly.

The cause of the fall is currently under investigation. Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, which is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, is located just off Route 146, approximately 20 miles south of Worcester. This natural area features a 1/4-mile-long chasm formed by ancient glacial activity, with granite bedrock walls reaching 75 feet high, as well as cliffs, precipices, and caves.

While popular during the warmer months for hiking, Purgatory Chasm is closed during the winter due to slippery and hazardous conditions.