Archive for the ‘drowning’ Category

More details on drowning at the Sinks

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Great Smoky Mountains officials published a press release this afternoon regarding the young woman who drowned at the Sinks over the weekend, providing a few more details on the incident:

At about 3:30 p.m. on July 30, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Dispatch received a report that a young woman had been swept over the 15-foot high waterfall at the Sinks on the Little River about 10 miles west of Gatlinburg, TN.

Witnesses reported that the woman had been wading across the river in knee-deep water just above the falls, when she lost her footing and was swept over the falls. At the base of the falls she became entrapped in a crevice that held her underwater in chest-deep water by the force of the water coming down from above.

Visitors formed a human chain and attempted to pull her free, but were unable to overcome the force of the water.

Rescue workers were able to free her body at about 6:15 p.m. using a rope and pulley system.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers coordinated the response. The recovery was carried out by responders from Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Townsend Volunteer Fire Department, Blount County Fire Department and Rural metro Ambulance.

The identity of the victim was withheld until Sunday morning July 31 to ensure notification of kin. The victim was 17year-old Amber Rose Mirisola of Mt. Dora, FL.

Park officials say that the there are numerous signs posted at the Sinks advising visitors of strong currents and hidden hazards and advising caution in and around the water. This is the second drowning in a month at the Park which has been experiencing near-record warm temperatures all summer, prompting many visitors to recreate in the water.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Two die on Chattahoochee River

Monday, March 15th, 2010
There were two drownings in four river-related incidents in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in northern Georgia last weekend, largely due to the first nice weather in months combined with high water levels on the river.

On Saturday, March 6th, a fisherman was swept into some rapids just below the Jones Bridge area, which flipped him upside down in his float tube. The fisherman was unable to upright himself and was underwater for approximately five minutes. CPR was begun by a fellow fisherman, but was unsuccessful. The fisherman was wearing a life jacket.

On Sunday, March 7th, two men were in a boat that struck a rock just below McGinnis Ferry. Both men were thrown from the boat when it capsized. Another boater in the area witnessed the accident and was able to save one of the two men, but was unable to locate the other. Search efforts continued until he was found around noon the next day when a spotter in a Georgia State Patrol helicopter located the body about two miles downstream from the accident scene. Rangers then recovered it. Personnel from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and from the Johns Creek, Forsyth County and Gwinnett County Fire Departments all played key roles during the entire SAR. Neither of the men were wearing life jackets.

The other two incidents involved overturned canoes and a fisherman caught in the rising water by a scheduled release from Buford Dam, both resulting in only minor injuries.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Posted in Chattahoochee River, National Recreation Area, drowning, fishing | Comments Off