Fatality reported during weekend rafting trip on the Nolichucky River

High water levels on the Nolichucky River were one of the factors noted in a report that described the conditions during a fatal rafting incident that occurred in the Mount Mitchell area near the North Carolina – Tennessee border.

According to a report obtained from USA Raft Adventure, a 63-year-old woman was flushed out of one of three vessels carrying 14 customers and then recovered from the waters which an official said were high Saturday afternoon due to previous thunderstorm activity.

Company officials and others began CPR operations on the woman and she was later transported using a railway system to emergency responders from Unicoi County. The report says the woman later died. The name of the victim has not been released.

Here is the report sent to SuperTalk:

USA Raft Adventure Resort 230pm Nolichucky Gorge trip was putting on at the Poplar Put In at approximately 330pm. Water levels had been noted to have risen to approx. 2000 cfs, due to thunderstorms that had occurred up stream in the Mount Mitchell area of North Carolina. The trip was 3 boats with 14 customers. Guides noticed that water levels were increasing from the time they put on. As the boats entered Quarter Mile the sweep boat flipped at Second Drop. The two downstream boats had floating safeties set and began recover guests. A 63 year old Female customer was noted to have recirculated in Hungry Jack close to Ivan (rock) where she was flushed out and again recirculated in 6th drop and was finally able to be recovered. She was taken below Murphy’s Ledge where CPR and resuscitation efforts by guide staff and 4 private boaters/off duty staff that came on the situation. Runners were sent out on the tracks; cell service was found and 911 was contacted. Members from Bradshaw VFD, Mitchel County EMS responded to Poplar. Unicoi Co EMS and Southside VFD responded from Chestoa on the train tracks. CSX was contacted and all train traffic was stopped. The patient was evacuated up to the train tracks and out the Poplar access via UTV with resuscitation efforts continued throughout the incident. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at Poplar.

(IMAGE: American Whitewater / USFS)