A youth organization in Niagara Falls says an 18-year-old man who fell to his death in the Niagara Gorge, Tuesday, had been staying in one of its residences.

The Boys and Girls Club said the man lived there intermittently since 2011 with no incidents of violence. He was last seen leaving the home shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police report shortly after that time, an officer was chasing the 18-year-old man in the area of River Road, between Otter and Eastwood Streets.  The two men then went over a retaining wall and into the gorge.

The Niagara region police officer, identified as Constable Jacob Smits, only suffered a broken leg. He was rescued and airlifted to a Hamilton hospital.

The nature of the incident has caused the province’s Special Investigations Unit to take over the case.

“I can confirm an officer and a male both fell over the retaining wall into the gorge. Rescue mission in progress with fire, parks police and Niagara regional police. Between Otter and Eastwood on River Road,” Constable Derek Watson told 680News.

It is estimated that the men fell about twenty or thirty feet. According to the SIU, the man died of his injuries caused by the plunge.

Firefighters used rappelling equipment to descend into the gorge. A helicopter was also brought in to assist in the rescue.