High school student Zoe McKinney, 17, from Moab, Utah, slipped and fell at around 4.10pm local time on Friday while hiking in the Kane Creek Canyon area of the Moab Rim Trail.

Ms McKinney’s friends called emergency services and tried to find a way to get down to where their friend fell, but police said there was no safe way to do so, Fox News reports.

“Our hearts still ache tremendously for this beautiful young woman’s family and friends,” police said.

First responders raced to the trail and immediately began working to get to the area above where the teen fell.

Rescuers rappelled to the teen using harnesses and climbing gear with ropes. But when they reached the teen, they determined she had died from the fall. Officials worked for the next two hours to recover her body.

The Grand County School District confirmed in a statement that the teen who died in the fall was Zoe, a high school student.

“Zoe was a remarkable student and we will honour her memory throughout the remainder of this senior year,” Grand County High School, where Ms McKinney was a student, said, adding therapists would be available as the school community grieves.

Friends told FOX13 Salt Lake City the 17-year-old was a cheerleader with “a big heart” and remembered her as a “very loving friend”.

“She was working on getting her EMT [emergency medical technician] licence, because that’s all she wanted to do – was help people,” friend Iryss said.

Moab Police Chief Jared Garcia said in a statement he hopes the community will support each other and Zoe’s family during this time.

“We recognise the devastating impact the loss of a beloved young woman and friend has in this small community, but know that wonderful people of Moab will band together to support and comfort her family and friends at this time,” Chief Garcia said.

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission