The 20-year-old man who was swept over Ohiopyle Falls to his death has been identified as George Willhoft, Jr., of Washington, Pa.

Mr. Willhoft and four friends were swimming in the Youghiogheny River yesterday afternoon. They were washed onto the buoy line, a wire rescue line stretching across the river about 30 feet above the falls. But Mr. Willhoft was in the center channel -- the strongest, fastest part of the river -- and was washed over the 18-foot-high falls and later died.

The river was particularly dangerous yesterday because it stood at 4.8 feet -- nearly 3 feet higher than normal for June -- and had a force of 3,500 cubic feet per second, about four times more pressure than normal, said Ohiopyle State Park Manager John Hallas. The increased river height was caused by the heavy rain last week, Mr. Hallas added, and he expects the river to return to normal by next week.

The five swimmers entered the water near the Youghiogheny Trail Bridge, about 300 yards above the falls. Locals and park visitors often enter the water there, Mr. Hallas said, but many avoid the area when the water seems hazardous.

"They have to assume responsibility for themselves and assess the risk," he said. "Unfortunately, some people are better at assessing risks than others."

Mr. Hallas added that the park staff is investigating the incident and will later assess whether they should change their public information strategy -- which includes posting informational and danger signs and having the park's seven rangers talk to the public while patrolling.