Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — A teenager in Cherokee, North Carolina is dead after losing his footing in the Oconaluftee River, according to a National Parks Service spokesperson.
At 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, Great Smoky Mountain National Park rangers and Cherokee Search and Rescue responded to a report that a teenager didn't resurface after slipping into the river behind the Mountain Farm Museum, said NPS.
According to the spokesperson, responders trained in swift water rescue recovered the body of a 16-year-old around 6:30 p.m. EDT.
"Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful," NPS said.
Multiple agencies, including Cherokee Fire and Rescue, Cherokee Police Department, Smokies Life employees, National Park Service staff and volunteers responded to and helped with the drowning.
NPS urges using caution around any swift-moving water, noting that there are no lifeguards in the park and help can often be hours away.
NPS gave multiple tips to better understand water safety in and around the "tempting" water of the Smoky Mountains.
- Use extreme caution when walking along riverbanks
- Do not dive or jump into the water
- Stay on the trail if you don't feel confident in the water or don't know how to swim.
