thank you all. i have more specifics about his death.
"Chris on the Europe trip hiking the alps with a group of students. It had rained heavily the night before, and the path was slippery and still wet. Chris slipped and fell off the side of a 25 meter (82 foot) cliff where he landed on his head and rolled into a water hole.
A small group of student volunteers climbed down to where he had landed to try and aid in the rescue. Chris landed on his head and was instantly killed, he was pronounced dead on the scene."
thank you again for your kind words and support.