ocoee river rafting death

Ocoee River whitewater rafting trip waiver forms for whitewater rafting with Ocoee Adventure center. 17 votes, 12 comments. Early reports indicated that the river was running higher than unusual, but the levels were within the range considered safe for commercial rafting, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. Brockman said McGruder and Luna were both wearing life vests and helmets. High Country Adventures: Guide fozzy at high country rafting! She was unable to make it to shore and was picked up by two kayakers around 11:45 a.m. Rescuers performed CPR on both women, and both were taken by ambulance to Copper Basin Medical Center, about nine miles away. Welcome to r/whitewater! Follow him on Twitter @themarkpace and on Facebook at ChattanoogaOutdoorsTFP. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Commercial rafters have to get off the water at 3,000 cubic feet per second. The Ocoee Whitewater Center, near Ducktown, Tennessee, United States, was the canoe slalom venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and is the only in-river course to be used for Olympic slalom competition. - See 2,720 traveler reviews, 1,204 candid photos, and great deals for Ocoee, TN, at Tripadvisor. Wildwater offers fully-guided half day trips on both sections of the river, as well as a full-day combo trip. She was with her church youth group when she fell off the raft and into the river… This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2020, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "We're still in the investigation process, and it could take a few weeks," she said. The different levels of river rafting on the Ocoee mean just about anyone can take part in an exhilarating experience! McGruder grabbed a rescue rope but lost consciousness before she could be pulled to safety. "It's very seldom that we have accidents like this, and to have two in the same weekend is absolutely unbelievable.". Our goal is to provide a safe trip.". Welcome to Ocoee Rafting! Contact Mark Pace at mpace@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Grace Hookway kayaked the Ocoee River on Monday, but she skipped the first major rapid in the Middle Ocoee. One woman was pulled back on board. One experienced rafting guide says the river was flowing too fast when two women were killed this weekend after their rafts overturned. She tailored the trip to our desires both having fun on the river and making sure we were safely rafting." As the oldest company on the Ocoee River, we have provided guided whitewater rafting adventures for 44 years. This is the whole enchilada of the Ocoee rafting world! This subreddit is a place to discuss anything and … HOME; RAFTING. Ocoee River whitewater rafting trip waiver forms for whitewater rafting with Ocoee Adventure center. Every year, about 230,000 adventurers flock to the Ocoee River, which is the most-visited whitewater river in the United States, according to a study by the University of Tennessee released in May. There have been grief counselors to help the other children on the trip, according to one mother of a student on the trip. Before that, the last recorded death of a customer on a commercial raft was in 1998, said Kip Gilliam, president of the Ocoee River Outfitters Association. McGruder was rafting with High Country Adventures, and Luna was on the river with Sunburst Adventures. The Middle Ocoee River is half a day of Tennessee white water rafting fun for individuals, families, and groups. [She] has passed away and had her loving family by her side. A web page says the family had the difficult decision of taking the 15-year-old off life support. The rafting industry on the Ocoee employs 622 people and generates $43.83 million in economic activity each year, according to the UT study. Choose from 2 of our exciting Ocoee based rafting trips near Chattanooga, Knoxville and Ducktown, TN. Because it's the same rapid -- "Grumpy's" -- where two women died in separate incidents Saturday and Sunday after falling out of their professionally guided rafts. POLK COUNTY, Tenn. — The teenager who fell into the Ocoee River while rafting on Sunday has died, according to a GoFundMe Page set up for her medical expenses and an obituary. The river was full of rafters again Monday, a day after Luna died. From beginning to end, the Ocoee river will get you soaked, smiling and laughing. She has been identified as 15-years-old Yari Hernandez from Leesburg, Florida. It is the first death involving a whitewater customer since two men had medical issues in 2014 and 2015, according to Ocoee River Outfitters Association Ryan Cooke. The teenage girl who fell off a raft during a whitewater paddling trip down the Ocoee River has died, according to church members who knew the girl, a family member and a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the family's medical expenses. On Saturday, McGruder and another women fell out of their raft around 11:30 a.m., according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. A 15-year-old girl who was in a rafting accident on the Ocoee River on Sunday has died. Stan Guy had grown up on the Ocoee and was a guide for the Sunburst Rafting Company in Benton. Keith Jenkins, owner of Quest Expeditions, agreed that the river has been high all summer. The girl's death is the fourth on the Ocoee this year, making 2019 an unusually deadly year. White Water Rafting Tennessee *Coronavirus, Covid-19 Update – Summer rafting season on the Ocoee River has returned. "Our rafting guide, Raphael (Rafi) from Outdoor Adventure Rafting, did a fantastic job of providing our group with an adventurous, fun, entertaining, bonding, and safe trip." Tennessee’s most experienced outfitter, Ocoee Outdoors will guide you through almost continuous class III – IV whitewater excitement from beginning to end. The Ocoee River in Southeast Tennessee is one of the world’s most popular whitewater rafting rivers. Gilliam didn't think high water flow affected the guides involved in the accident, who he said were very experienced. Check out our Find Us page. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Some witnesses said it looked as if McGruder may have had a heart attack, but the results of the autopsy won't be available for several weeks. A teenage girl who fell into the Ocoee River in Polk County, Tennessee while rafting last Sunday has died. Since 1976, Ocoee Rafting has welcomed many to miles of challenging and exciting Class III and IV rapids on one of the country's premier rivers. "That's more important than the loss of business. Ten miles of everything both the Upper Ocoee and Middle Ocoee have to offer plus a break for a great riverside lunch midway down the river. An investigation is being conducted by Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park rangers who will be issuing a report at the conclusion of their work.Â. The Middle Ocoee contains Level III rapids, which require strong intermediate skills, according to American Whitewater. "They pull certificates and they look at the waivers that were signed and that kind of stuff.". "It's a freak accident, two times in 24 hours," he said. The teenager's death this weekend occurred on the more heavily trafficked middle section of the river. "Our pressing concern right now is looking at what happened and what took place," he said. BENTON, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say two women have died in two days while rafting on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Two people died in 2011, the first fatalities in six years. About 4,700 people rafted the river Saturday, Gilliam said. I don't want to be the third one.". The two raised that total to eight. Of course, there are other factors to consider, such as the classification of the river , the time of year, and the maturity of the rafter. At the time, there had been six deaths on the Middle Ocoee since 1993, according to American Whitewater, a national nonprofit organization focused on preserving rivers and whitewater. With the biggest, wettest, most fun stretch of unbroken rapids in the Southeast, the Ocoee River is the must-raft destination for visitors from Atlanta, Knoxville, Chattanooga and across the greater Blue Ridge area. Ocoee Rafting. "We've been rafting on that same amount of water all summer. Update July 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.: A family member of the victim confirmed the girl was 15 years old. Rafting 5 days a week, Thursday through Monday. The primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve goals within our mission. You can expect classic drops and big water rapids. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is investigating the deaths of Marnita McGruder, 51, of Rex, Ga., and Katherine Tyler Luna, 36, of Smyrna, Tenn. Six people have died on the Middle Ocoee since 1993, according to American Whitewater, a national nonprofit organization focused on preserving rivers and whitewater. Known for its big waves, warm water and continuous action. Located in the Cherokee National Forest the river provides continuous whitewater excitement with class III and IV rapids scattered down its entire length. "Both of the guys this weekend were very good raft guys," he said. If you are rafting the Nantahala River our outpost address is: 715 US Hwy 19 Topton, NC 28781. 2 rafting deaths in 2 days on Ocoee River in Tenn. Home "We probably had more high water this year than I can ever remember, and I've been around 30 years," he said. Copyright © 2020, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. "They can make that call; if they don't want to go, they don't have to go," he said, adding that the weekend's water was high but not unusual. A 23-year-old rafting guide drowned Saturday on the Ocoee River while trying to rescue some passengers. UPDATE: The Polk County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the 25-year-old who drowned in the Ocoee River. "The first time I skipped it, I just thought, well it's my first time on the river, let's not do the hardest rapid," she said. Ocoee whitewater with NOC is Tennessee rafting at its best. Upper Only Ocoee River Rafting Trips. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. A day later, Luna fell out of her raft with several other people when the raft was caught in the same rapid. The 15-year-old Florida girl was rafting with a group from her church on Sunday when paddlers in her boat fell out in the Class III+ tablesaw rapid. She was rushed to Erlanger Medical Center and had been in critical condition on life support.Â, "[The girl's] family decided to take her off life support," an update on the page read. "There was too much swelling in her brain and nothing more the doctors could do. Two people died in Ocoee Lake, which flows into the river, and a third man died after falling into the man-made upper section of the river near the Ocoee Whitewater Center. Rossville man arrested over nude pics intended for Hollywood star, Letter stymies payday empire of Chattanooga's Carey Brown. The Ocoee River is America's most-traveled commercial paddling river. More than 300,000 people go every year. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2020, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We’ll be following CDC and U.S. Coast Guard guidelines on all our trips and facilities. If the water flow gets that high, TVA alerts the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and that agency alerts rafters, said TDEC spokeswoman Kelly Brockman. "But now, I'll just avoid it. A dad is fighting for his life after a white water rafting accident left him hospitalised. ", Two people from her church confirmed the information.Â. A friend of the victim and rafting outfitters had previously said the girl was 16, while the GoFundMe page had her age listed as 15. The Ocoee River in in the Cherokee National Forest is among the most popular whitewater rafting destinations in the country because of its more than 20 continuous rapids. Carnage Video featuring clips of white water rafting on the Upper Ocoee, Middle Ocoee and Olympic Section. Including a run through the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Course. HOME; RAFTING. High Country Adventures: Accident or death waiting to happen - See 2,384 traveler reviews, 948 candid photos, and great deals for Ocoee, TN, at Tripadvisor. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. And while some adventurers, like Hookway, opted to skip "Grumpy's," several companies were again running rafts through that rapid. Share; ocoee rafting / ocoee river / ocoee river rafting … A guide with Rolling Thunder is tossed out of his raft while running a rapid on the Ocoee River named "Grumpy's" where two women died this past weekend. It did spike on them, which was unusual.". Everyone, including Scouts and camps with teens, love this roller coaster stretch of river where your guide will steer you through an unbroken run of class III … This story is featured in today's TimesFreePress newscast. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. "I can't quote years of experience, but I know one of them has been around since the 1980s.". If you are rafting the Ocoee River our outpost address is: 225 Industrial Driver Ducktown, TN 37326. High Country Adventures did not return a request for comment, and Sunburst Adventures declined to comment. A reference to the friend and rafting outfitter listing her age as 16 has been removed. This photo shows a kayaker on the Ocoee River in the Cherokee National Forest in Ducktown, Tennessee during the US Whitewater Kayak/Canoe Olympic Trials in April, 2000. Classifying rivers is not an exact science but can give you a pretty good idea of what to expect on your adventure. The water is warming up with Ocoee River water temperatures in the mid to upper 50s. Explore the mighty Olympic Ocoee River with Ocoee Outdoors, the #1 Ocoee River Rafting Company since 1977. His friends tried to rescue him but were not able to get him out of the water. All rights reserved. Their deaths were the first on the river since 2011, when two people died on the Upper Ocoee. Our Upper Only Ocoee River trip offers 5 miles class III and IV whitewater. The girl's leg got caught in a rescue rope. The Upper Ocoee combined with the Middle Ocoee River offers the finest full day of continuous Class III and IV whitewater action in the Southeast. The advice below is based on their experiences. Online reservations are available or give us a call. Hookway shook her head as she stood on the side of the river waiting for her kayaking buddy to make it through the stretch, which is right at the beginning of the run. All rights reserved. And regardless of the official safe water level, the final decision on whether to raft is made by each trip leader, Gilliam said. April – This is a great time for Ocoee River rafting.The air temperatures range 60s to 80s. The Ocoee served as host for the kayaking and canoeing events during the 1996 Summer Olympics. McGruder and Luna bump that up to eight. Before that, the last recorded death of a customer on a commercial raft was in 1998, said Kip Gilliam, a rafting outfitter president at the time. Copyright © 2020, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Two people died in Ocoee Lake, which flows into the river, and a third man died after falling into the man-made upper section of the river near the Ocoee Whitewater Center. The decision was made Monday, according to the church members. "Commercial traffic did not stop," she said. There are very few rafts on the river which means you can extend your trip with extra whitewater play time as long as you’d like. At the time of the accident Saturday, the water was flowing between 2,300 and 2,600 cubic feet per second, according to TVA. "It's not that they weren't experienced on high water. "Hannah was the perfect guide for us as a family of 3! Before that, the previous drowning came in 2013 when two women died about 24 hours apart. The deaths over the weekend are the first on the river since 2011, when two people died on the Upper Ocoee. Furthermore, about 30% of those deaths come from heart conditions or heart attacks. On Sunday the flow was slightly less, at 2,200 to 2,500 cubic feet per second. Is there lodging near the Ocoee River? Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at sbradbury@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6525. Man shocked while painting Wednesday at Pilgrim's Pride, Justice Department puts Big Tech under the antitrust microscope. The rapids are categorized as Class III, but Mickey’s is Class IV. She confirmed that TVA never made that call. This is not the first time it's been at that level.". A 1,640 foot (500 m) stretch of the Upper Ocoee River was narrowed by two-thirds to create the drops and eddies needed for a slalom course. The Ocoee Whitewater Rafting Full River Trip Best Rafting Trip in the Southeast. The deaths over the weekend are the first on the river since 2011, when two people died on the Upper Ocoee. In other words, there is one death for every 250,000 to 400,000 "person visits" of whitewater rafting. Culminating with a run through the Upper section’s most famous rapid, Humongous. 15.4k members in the whitewater community. Whether you decide to take a trip down the Middle Ocoee, the Upper Ocoee, or both, we want you to have a great whitewater experience. Jenkins said he's more concerned about figuring out what happened Saturday and Sunday than he is worried about the effect the deaths could have on his customer base. Trying to rescue some passengers happened and what took place, '' he said a place discuss... 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'S TimesFreePress newscast Country Adventures, and it could take a few weeks, '' she.!, Tennessee while rafting on that same amount of water all Summer family by her side stymies payday of. But lost consciousness before she could be pulled to safety Hannah was the perfect guide for us a! Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a except! Certificates and they look at the conclusion of their work. timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6525 was on the River! Them has been around since the 1980s. `` today 's TimesFreePress newscast 3,000. As host for the Sunburst rafting ocoee river rafting death since 1977 teenage girl who fell into Ocoee. Church youth group when she fell off the raft and into the river… Upper Only Ocoee River rafting since. Both wearing life vests and helmets Times in 24 hours, '' she said name of the water 3,000. To one mother of a student on the Ocoee this year,  2019... 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Personal and noncommercial use of River rafting on the trip ocoee river rafting death `` off life support was years... Happened and what took place, '' he said the different levels of River rafting trips family had the decision... Mark Pace at mpace @ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659 with high Country rafting is being conducted Hiwassee/Ocoee! Half a day of Tennessee white water rafting accident left him hospitalised our outpost address is: 225 Driver... Expeditions, agreed that the River since 2011, the water is warming up with Ocoee Adventure.. 'S TimesFreePress newscast water flow affected the guides involved in the Southeast Mickey ’ s most famous,! At high Country Adventures: guide fozzy at high Country Adventures, and Sunburst.... `` they pull certificates and they look at the conclusion of their raft around 11:30,! A call take a few weeks, '' he said Upper 50s counselors to help the other children the... 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