WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Family and friends of 18-year-old Grant Herridge are mourning his death after he tragically died in an accident at Olympic National Park in Washington state.
His family confirmed to KWTX that, on June 8, Grant slipped and fell over a 50 foot waterfall while on a graduation trip with his friend.
Brad Herridge, Grant’s father, says Grant had wanted to go on this trip for years, leaving just a few days after graduating high school to visit seven national parks all across the U.S.
He says growing up his son loved the outdoors and was always looking for his next adventure.
“He loved doing exciting, fun things,” Herridge shared, “he has a ring that he’s been wearing for several years and the reason he got the ring was because of the saying that was inscribed in the ring that says ‘while we wait for life, life passes.”
Which is exactly what Grant always lived by. But no one could have anticipated how his trip would end, and now their world is forever marred by tragedy.
“We’ve just been so beside ourselves with grief,” Herridge said. News of Grant’s tragic death shook their whole community.
In a statement from Vanguard College Preparatory, where Grant went to school, they shared, “the loss of Grant Herridge is deeply felt by all of us. He was a bright light on our campus, full of kindness, humor, and warmth… the impact he made on our school and in our hearts will never be forgotten”.
He was also set to go to Baylor in the fall, following in his parents footsteps.
“He had wanted to go to Baylor his whole life,” Herridge explained, “his mom and I graduated from Baylor, his mom works for Baylor… so Baylor’s like in his heart”.
In his honor Baylor University has established a Grant Herridge Memorial Scholarship.
The University shared in a statement, “Our hearts are shattered for the Herridge family in the tragic passing of their son Grant, who was an incoming freshman and shining light in Baylor’s Class of 2029. It is difficult to express the depth of our sorrow for Mary, Brad and Lucy, but our Baylor Family has come together to surround them in our deepest prayers and support as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”
Brad, who is a pastor in Temple, shared how grateful their family is for the overwhelming love and support from everyone.
“I always preach that in times of tragedy is where you see the kingdom of God the most because there’s just so much love, and I always believed it but this past week I felt it,” he said.
As he prepares to bury his son, Brad says what he wants people to remember most about Grant is how he lived his life. “He lived life without anxiety and he lived life to it’s fullest,” he shared.
A visitation for Grant will be held this Wednesday at Baylor University’s Hurd Welcome Center and his memorial service will be this Friday in Waco.
